Nottingham Forest overcame Manchester United in December, and they now have a great opportunity to hit back at the Red Devils in the transfer market.
Forest’s victory over United in Nuno Espirito Santo’s third game in charge came against the odds, sending the City Ground into a frenzy.
Forest won their first game against United in nearly 30 years, thanks to goals from Nicolas Dominguez and Morgan Gibbs-White.
In recent years, the relationship between Forest and United has been strained, with the Reds attempting to conduct business with the club in the transfer market.
Now that United is looking into Danilo’s availability, Forest has an opportunity to give the club a taste of their own medicine.
Manchester United is reportedly asking Nottingham Forest about Danilo.
However, Forest must be feeling wicked.
Forest signed James Garner on loan for the first time in 2021, and he impressed enough to stay on loan for the entire 2021/22 season.
The midfielder was fantastic, establishing himself as a quality Championship midfielder and helping Forest return to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.
When the season ended, Forest attempted to sign Garner on a permanent basis but was repeatedly turned down.
Erik ten Hag was rumored to be looking at him throughout preseason, and Forest went looking for fresh midfield players.
Garner left for a tour of the United States to play very little football, while Forest completed their team, which did not include the midfielder.
Just weeks later, United decided to transfer Garner to Everton for £15 million.
Last summer, Forest faced similar challenges with Dean Henderson.
Despite the fact that the goalkeeper missed half of the season due to a thigh injury, Forest remained interested in signing Henderson.
It appeared to be going on for a long time, and Forest elected to wait it out in the hopes of convincing United to sell.
Instead, United hinted that Henderson would be used, and Forest still lacked a goalkeeper a week before the season began.
In typical United manner, they sold Henderson to Crystal Palace after Forest signed Matt Turner and Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Now the tables could be turned.
Forest must play United at their own game against Danilo.
The Brazilian is on the radar of a number of teams, with it being reported this week that United requested more information on his availability.
Based on their interactions with Garner and Henderson, Forest would be wise to play United like a fiddle, just as they did when the roles were reversed in the past.
Danilo signed for Forest for around £16 million, and following a string of excellent Premier League performances, Forest should want top dollar.
Just because Manchester United has contacted Forest does not imply the club should bend over backwards to assist them in signing the player.
Hopefully, the Reds will hold firm and just tell United that Danilo is not for sale unless a ridiculously high bid is made for the player this summer.
Football has a way of bringing up karma, and United may come to regret how they treated Forest when they signed Henderson and Garner in the past.
