The 23-year-old is reported to have asked to leave the county at the end of the season.

But Pietersen, who has scored more than 2,000 runs this season, still has a year left on his contract.

Cricket manager Mick Newell told this website: ""I am not going to make any comment on whether Kevin has formally asked to leave.

"He has got a year left on his contract and we expect him to fulfil it."

The highly rated South African will qualify to play international cricket for England next year.

He will spend the winter at the England Academy in Loughborough.

Pietersen arrived at Nottinghamshire in 2001 under the tutelage of his mentor Clive Rice.

But following Nottinghamshire's relegation to Division Two of the County Championship, he could be tempted by a move to either Surrey, Middlesex or Northamptonshire.

Pietersen has insisted any reports of him wanting to leave Trent Bridge were "pure speculation".