Arsenal are unlikely to pursue a move for Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall during the January transfer window, according to a report from the Nottingham Post.

Worrall has been a mainstay in Nottingham Forest's defence since the beginning of the season, with the 22-year-old establishing himself as an integral part of Sabri Lamouchi's side, since returning to the City Ground from his season-long loan with Rangers in the summer.

The defender has formed effective partnerships with both Michael Dawson and Tobias Figueiredo during the opening months of the campaign, helping the Reds record an impressive tally of eight clean sheets from their opening 17 Championship matches so far this campaign.

The Michael Dawson quiz – How much do you know about the Nottingham Forest man?

Given Worrall's form it is no surprise to have seen him be linked with a move to Premier League Arsenal in January, but the Gunners are now believed not to be targeting a centre-back during the winter window, despite their defensive frailties being evident so far this season, but they will continue to monitor his progress.

The Verdict

Arsenal dropping any potential January interest for Worrall would be very welcome news for Lamouchi's side, who will not be wanting to spend the winter window worrying about whether one of their most important players could potentially be leaving the club.

Worrall has excelled for the Reds so far this season, returning to the City Ground and showing a new found maturity and confidence in his ability to be a commanding presence at the heart of the Reds' defence - and the 22-year-old has been one of Forest's most consistent performers so far this term helping Lamouchi's side become a really difficult team to break down.

It is vital that the Reds retain Worrall's services for the second half of the campaign, with the defender's presence a potentially key factor in whether or not they can mount a successful promotion push this term - and having just established himself in Forest's first team he would not want to move onto another club just to sit on the bench.