Nottingham Forest’s Jorge Mendes’ World Cup winner is linked with a move, while goalkeeper Carlos Miguel is close to a deal and a promising youth emerges.
The transfer market is officially open, and Nottingham Forest are anticipated to be busy once more, as Nuno Espirito Santo has the opportunity to work on his inherited squad for a sustained period for the first time.
Forest has already cut the fringes. Harry Arter, Wayne Hennessey, Felipe, Scott McKenna, Loic Mbe Soh, and Cheikhou Kouyate have already left, while loanees Gio Reyna, Divock Origi, Nuno Tavares, Gonzalo Montiel, and Rodrigo Ribeiro have returned to their respective clubs.
While Forest should be careful of the PSR regulations, which have historically harmed them, there is a need for recruitment in a variety of squad roles. Here are the most recent transfer rumors and verdicts.
Goalkeeping situation
Forest are set to complete the acquisition of towering goalkeeper Carlos Miguel soon as they address their goalkeeping department and look to add depth following Wayne Hennessey’s exit, but Matt Turner’s future is uncertain.
Miguel, of Corinthians in his home Brazil, had a release provision placed into his contract, which Forest are said to have activated. The goalie will cost the Reds less than £4 million once the deal is finalized, and he will kick off another exciting summer of recruitment at the City Ground.
The 25-year-old was born in Rio de Janeiro and began his football career as a youth with Flamengo before joining Internacional. Miguel went on loan to clubs in the lower tiers of the Brazilian football pyramid, including Santa Cruz and Boa Esporte, where he made his senior debut.
According to NottinghamshireLive, Miguel is well regarded, and given his age as a goalkeeper, the prices being discussed appear to be a sensible investment. The wider picture for Forest, however, is that they require clarification in the goalkeeping area.
Since returning, they’ve added Dean Henderson, Keylor Navas, Matt Turner, Odysseas Vlachodimos, and now Matz Sels, the latter of whom is currently first choice. While Hennessey has left, Forest is looking to clear out the keeping department this summer. Vlachodimos and Turner, one would assume, will be available for transfers.
Forest, if they are to begin the new season with Sels and Miguel as first and second choices, hopefully those pursuits will finally bear fruit after a period of uncertainty and distorted thinking that has resulted in more failures than successes.
Worrall, farewell
Nottingham Forest are thought to have started talks about signing Joe Worrall.
Worrall’s future at the City Ground is uncertain after being loaned to Besiktas in February. The agreement includes an option for the Turkish club to make the move permanent in the summer.
According to Teamtalk, the Reds have initiated talks with Sheffield United about signing the centre-back, who has been a long-term desire for the Blades since they were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season.
According to NottinghamshireLive, while Worrall is unlikely to be eager to leave his boyhood club, the writing appears to be on the wall. It is uncommon in football for a player who has been loaned out because he was deemed unsuitable by the manager to return and press his way back into the team. Worrall’s financing from Turkey was merely enough.
At the age of 27, Worrall should prioritize playing frequently, even if it means returning to the Championship, from which he previously gained promotion. He should be a player with admirers and who may earn Forest a few pounds if a permanent deal is reached; as an academy product, the pure profit in that case does little to hurt the Reds’ balance sheet.
First summer signing
Nottingham Forest are ‘working on’ the £4.6 million signing of Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Stamenic, seemingly beating Coventry City to the deal.
The Athletic reports that the 22-year-old might be Forest’s first summer acquisition. However, this one will not instantly reinforce Nuno Espirito Santo’s ranks; instead, he will take a loan path to Evangelos Marinakis’ other owned club Olympiacos in the hopes of a promising future.