Nottingham Forest are unlikely to face a dispute on any of their last-ditch sales before the June 30th accounting deadline if they can demonstrate the transactions were “at arm’s length”.
That is the assessment of finance expert Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider that the only risk for Forest is if the Premier League requests paperwork that does not match their version about the purchases.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s team is thought to have been close to their permissible losses limit again after receiving a points deduction last season, with the club needing to generate a significant profit by June 30.
It has been revealed that the Premier League wrote to all 20 top-flight clubs to remind them of the “good faith” restrictions governing transfers before the deadline.
Forest were one of the clubs involved in the late transfers after Odysseas Vlachodimos joined Newcastle United for £12.5 million, while Elliot Anderson moved in the opposite direction for £35 million.
Orel Mangala completed his £15 million transfer to Lyon, while Moussa Niakhate also left the City Ground for the French club in a £27 million deal.
Last-minute deals at Nottingham Forest are unlikely to be disputed.
Although Borson thinks Forest’s signings appear to be “big” fees, he believes the Premier League will not oppose any of their transfers.
“On all of these deals, you have to look at it as to whether there is any indication that they weren’t at arm’s length,” Borson said to Football Insider.
“To the degree that they are arm’s length arrangements, they will not be challenged.
“The concern that some of the clubs may face is if it is discovered that there is some strange arrangement in which these players have moved and they are connected agreements.
“If the Premier League requests to review the papers, that’s where the risk lies since the paperwork may not match their tale.
“This was the issue they had with Brennan Johnson. When they went before the commission, they discovered that the story they were trying to present did not fit the emails and other evidence.
“But I believe the Nottingham Forest trades represent high prices. Niakhate’s move to Lyon represents a record fee for them.
“Lyon does not appear to have many resources, but they have already purchased Benrahma and Mangala. The figures are publicly available, however they are a little unclear.
“I think Forest have got some scrutiny on some of those deals, but as long as they can show they are arm’s length, there is no challenge coming.”
