There are concerns that they manipulated the situation to their benefit.
A selling club is concerned that Nottingham Forest may have pulled off a sly piece of business by negotiating a discount for one of their summer players if the sale is completed.
Forest ensures survival.
Though not mathematically safe, Nottingham Forest have all but secured their Premier League survival heading into the final day. Nuno Espirito Santo’s team need only a point against already-relegated Burnley to ensure survival, and even if Luton won their game against Fulham and Forest lost, it would take a 13-goal swing to have any impact on the final standings.
However, there is summer uncertainty at the City Ground, with pressure to achieve financial fair play requirements once more and the possibility of being fined even more points if they do not, which might lead to some significant sales.
Some decisions have already been taken, with Giovanni Reyna’s loan move not being made permanent, and there is suspicion that Murillo and Morgan Gibbs-White may follow him out the door.
With money tight in the Midlands this summer, every cent counts, and one team believes Nottingham Forest used an underhanded tactic to secure a discount.
Montiel’s summer deal could yet go ahead.
Sevilla has loaned Gonzalo Montiel to Nottingham Forest for the season. The Spanish club added an obligation to buy the player for 11 million euros (£9.4 million), which became effective if Montiel appeared in 50% of their Premier League matches this season.
However, the 27-year-old has struggled this season and was benched by Steve Cooper. When Nuno Espirito Santo took over, Montiel started four of his first five games before being demoted to the bench or dropped completely.
However, Williams’ injury has returned him to the team for the final three games of the season, and according to local reports in Spain, Sevilla believes that “a black hand may have pulled a string” in that they chose not to play him in order to avoid paying the transfer fee.
And, with Montiel due to return to the south of Spain this summer, he will once again be available for around 4 million euros (£3.4 million), implying that Forest would have received an around £6 million discount on the player if they had returned for him ahead of the new season.
It is unknown whether they will opt to do so, but Sevilla obviously believes that this is the plan they have put in place, and it has the potential to save them money this summer.
