Jamaal Lascelles: 'Transfer talk adds pressure'

Nottingham Forest defender Jamaal Lascelles has admitted that being linked to a raft of Premier League clubs has left him feeling added pressure.

The 20-year-old, who came through Forest's academy ranks, has become a regular at the City Ground this season.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are monitoring the youngster closely, according to Sky Sports News, but Lascelles says that he is now focused solely on gaining experience.

"There has been a lot of talk about me since I was young and that does add pressure," the Englishman told the Nottingham Evening Post. "People think to themselves, 'He must be good if a club like that want him'.

"I used to think about it quite a lot when I was younger. It did influence me mentally, quite a bit. It is more pressure. People were talking about Arsenal wanting me for £5m. When I played, I felt as though I needed to be a £5m player. If I didn't play well, I felt as though people would be saying, 'He is not worth that'.

"I'm used to it now and don't take any notice. I'm able to concentrate on my football. It was ideal for me just to get a run in the side. Every game I play now is good for my experience. At my age, it is all about how many games you play. It was a little unexpected for me, because it was the injuries that have given me my chance."

Forest are currently 11th in the Championship table.