Rumours of interest from Premier League giants will not distract Max Aarons as he focuses on finishing his breakthrough season at Norwich City with promotion.
The right-back has become a key player for the Championship leaders ever since making his league debut at Ipswich in September when still aged 18.
That 1-1 draw at Portman Road has turned out to be the first of 31 successive league starts for Aarons, leading to England Under-19 caps and reports of interest from Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and German side Red Bull Leipzig.
“That stuff just gets taken care of, I don’t ever buy into any of that, I don’t ever really listen to it, I don’t ever really look at it,” the 19-year-old insisted.
“The thing in my head is just the next game and playing as well as I can in the next match. I don’t really ever look at that, I don’t ever really talk about it, it’s just one of those things when you’re top of the league and things are going well, there’s going to be some speculation.”
The academy product, who joined at 16 having left Luton Town around a year earlier, knows a Premier League future is a big possibility anyway with City four points clear of third with 10 games of the campaign remaining.
He added: “When you are at the top of the Championship and people are looking on to you to be a Premier League team next season, there’s definitely going to be more interest than if you are down the bottom end of the league.”
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Aarons has three goals and five assists to his name from 33 games so far this season – extending his contract until 2023 back in October – but is not getting carried away with his success, thanks to his family and friends back home in Milton Keynes.
“They’re just keeping me grounded, treating me as usual, it’s just one of those things,” the Canaries starlet said ahead of tomorrow night’s Carrow Road clash with Hull. “I’d say they’re a massive help on me just being able to live normally and do my thing.
“They still come to loads of games, obviously my parents have helped me through from under-nines, driving me around and things like that.
“So it’s just nice to see them in the stands when I’m playing and stuff, that’s always good.”
• You can watch video of our exclusive interview with Aarons above, see tomorrow’s Eastern Daily Press or Norwich Evening News for more from the Canaries starlet
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