Kent head coach Matt Walker insisted James Tredwell is very much part of his plans, despite reports on Tuesday night the spinner was seeking a new club.

The former England spinner – and several other players including Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sam Billings – are out of contract at the end of the year and clubs are allowed to register their interest in signing them this summer.

Tredwell has played five matches in Specsavers County Championship Division 2 but has bowled just 32 overs, claiming two wickets at an average of 53.

Pakistan spinner Yasir Shah bowled nearly three times as many overs in his first two appearances in a four-match deal which includes next week's game at Notts and the visit of Northants to Beckenham the week after.

However Walker said: “Treddy is an important player for us. He’s an experienced cricketer, he’s got some important runs for us this year and been brilliant at slip.

“He’s not had the opportunities to bowl as much as he’d like in red-ball cricket but he understands we had the opportunity to bring in a world-class leg-spinner in Yasir Shah.

“We have got a lot of T20 cricket coming up and I’m sure Treddy will be hugely important to us.”

Bell-Drummond is reported to have attracted the interest of Warwickshire but Walker added: “We want to keep our best young players here, build for the future and add to them if possible.

“There are discussions going on but we won’t put pressure on players, we just want to make sure they know how important they are to the club.”

Kent are hoping to announce another overseas signing next week to boost their NatWest T20 Blast campaign, which gets under way on July 9.

Walker said: “We are hopeful of getting another one in to join Adam Milne. It’s a good sign. It shows the club are ambitious.

“It’s a difficult time of year but hopefully we can get something over the line.”