Stuart Pearce hoped to make a cheap deal, but it never happened. Nottingham Forest has made several budget acquisitions in recent transfer windows.
The success of some of Evangelos Marinakis’ key acquisitions, such as Nikola Milenkovic’s move from Fiorentina, has been crucial to Forest’s push in Europe this season.
Milenkovic, who cost Forest £13 million, has established himself as a mainstay in Nuno Espirito Santo’s defense, starting 23 Premier League games with Murillo, another cheap acquisition.
In just his second Premier League game since joining from Corinthians, Jamie Redknapp called Murillo a steal. Because of their efforts to Forest being one of the best defensive teams in the nation, Murillo and Milenkovic are now likened to Arsenal’s best defense.
The Forest owner will think highly of the center-backs because of their low transfer prices, but fond recollections of more than ten years ago will remind Forest supporters that another great deal that Forest icon Pearce sought to make was rejected.
For only £20,000, Stuart Pearce sought to sign Che Adams.
It’s easy to speculate about what may have happened with more prolific strikers who have been linked to a move to the City Ground, given that Forest is still holding onto Taiwo Awoniyi as their lone substitute for Chris Wood.
For example, when Pearce was Forest’s manager in 2014, he was anxious to sign Scottish sensation Che Adams.
In an interview with The Athletic, Pearce reflected on the failed company, saying: “You were talking about £20,000 with Adams.” Young talent like that should be snatched up by clubs like Forest.
It’s difficult to disagree with Pearce on the sentiment, as Adams would eventually be acquired by Sheffield United, where he would score 12 goals in League One before joining Birmingham City to become a Championship star.
After spending several successful seasons in the Premier League with Southampton, Adams left England to join Torino, where his market worth has stabilized at a price that, when compared to what Pearce could have paid, puts Forest to shame.
The increase in Che Adams’s value following Nottingham Forest’s error
Given the forward’s current value, Fawaz Al Hasawi’s rejection of Pearce’s offer for Adams now appears to have been a fairly poor one.
Adams’ Serie A stats demonstrate why he is now valued at £12.5 million at Torino, more than 600 times what Pearce sought to pay for him in 2014.
This season, Adams has assisted twice, created 21 opportunities for the mid-table squad, and scored seven goals in the Italian premier division.
He is also an incredibly hard working striker, making 35 successful recoveries and winning the ball back eight times in the final third this season.
Given that Pearce’s interest was in 2014, it’s unlikely to imagine Adams would’ve been featuring in Espirito Santo’s Forest squad today even if he was signed at the time, but it’s hard to not look back with some bitterness given how much of a bargain deal it could’ve been.
