Nottingham Forest open talks with Chris Wood over a new deal – with the in-form hotshot, 33, out of contract at the end of the season

Nottingham Forest are in talks with top scorer Chris Wood about a new contract to prevent him from leaving on a free transfer this summer.

Wood’s 10 goals have helped put Nuno Espirito Santo’s side in the race for a top-four finish. Saturday’s 2-1 win over Aston Villa left them fourth, a point and a place above champions Manchester City, ahead of their derby against Manchester United on Sunday.

Wood, who turned 33 on December 7, is said to earn around £100,000 a week, putting him at the top of Forest’s wage structure. There is no general policy at Forest regarding the length of deals offered to players over the age of 30, regarding a player’s fitness levels, status within the squad and performance.

From January 1, Wood can agree terms with foreign clubs. The forward is enjoying his time at Forest and believes he can continue playing at a high level well into his 30s.

“People are playing a lot longer now,” Wood told Mail Sport in an exclusive interview in November. They feel mature and strong at 35, 36. It’s about mentality, nutrition. People eat cleaner. There was a big drinking culture 15 years ago and it’s not there anymore.

“If you go back to the 1980s and 1990s, there were always out-of-the-closet players, that’s just how it was. Maybe that’s why people retired at 32 or 33. People still say ‘once you’re 30 you’re over the hill’, but that’s just not the case.

Wood’s goals have been crucial in lifting Nuno Espirito Santo’s team into the top four

‘Look at Jamie Vardy at 37, Robert Lewandowski at 36, Cristiano Ronaldo at 39. I feel like my best years are still ahead of me. I’m not thinking about stopping anytime soon.

‘The Golden Shoe would be wonderful. If I’m still in the running I’d be looking at it in March or April, although there’s Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah who have run with it in the past.”

Villa have not won in the league for almost two months after falling apart late at the City Ground, although boss Unai Emery refused to use fatigue as an excuse after his side were involved in an intense Champions League match at RB Leipzig. last week, although his team won just one of the six games following the European fixtures this season.

Villa boss Unai Emery refused to use fatigue as an excuse for his side’s defeat to Forest

Villa will be hoping to get Tyrone Mings back from illness for their meeting with Manchester City on Saturday, although Emery has his work cut out for him to manage the delicate dynamic between Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran.

Duran was in the starting line-up for the second league match in a row and responded with a goal, just like last Saturday in the victory over Southampton. The Colombian has scored 11 goals this season to Watkins’ seven, with Emery reluctant to start in either.