Captain Jamie Maclaren is refusing to let ongoing speculation about his future derail Melbourne City’s bid to return to the A-League Men summit.
The 32-cap Australia international is off contract at the end of this season and has yet to put pen to paper on a new deal at City.
It means the 30-year-old striker could walk away at the end of the current campaign and join a rival ALM side or an overseas club on a free transfer.
Maclaren recently hosed down reports he had rejected an extension with City and claimed he was hell-bent on returning the side to the top of the table.
“Nothing's turned down, nothing's accepted,” Maclaren said, ahead of Thursday’s home clash against Adelaide United.
“As it stands my contract runs out in June and my sole focus is trying to get us back up the ladder because our form hasn't been ideal.
“All I can do is make sure that my body feels good going into games; keeping myself fit and showing the boys that ... I'm not distracted.
“I’m not the only player coming off contract, we've got a lot of boys on loan so there will be a lot of changes at Melbourne City next season.
“Whether I stay or go, that's not really something I want to delve into too much.”
Maclaren’s side sit in eighth ahead of their meeting with the Reds and come into the midway point of the season off back-to-back defeats.
City have not lost three games straight since the start of 2021 and Maclaren said the side believe they can haul themselves back to the top.
“When I first joined, this club had only one FA Cup and I always said that when things aren't going well that’s where you really find who is with you," Maclaren said.
“It has been a difficult period. I remember a couple of years ago we had the same thing.
"We lost three on the bounce and people were calling for (then coach) Patrick Kisnorbo to get sacked, and then we turned around.
"We just need to get a win because the levels are so close at the moment other than Wellington and Victory, who are seven points or eight points clear (of City).
"The gap to third is only three points and that's something that still gives us hope.”
