After past window closures due to financial fines, it appears like Nottingham Forest will be able to open their chequebook this summer.
Forest is now ready to splash the cash.
The newest City Ground news focuses on potential new signings for Nuno Espírito Santo’s side. Indeed, Kelechi Iheanacho is the latest name that might be heading to Nottingham, as the former Leicester City striker is presently a free agent after failing to agree on a new contract at the King Power Stadium.
If they are to agree on a deal for the Nigerian striker, they would need to fend off interest from Champions League club Aston Villa.
The key question for the summer, however, is whether Morgan Gibbs-White will stay with the club next season. Whilst whispers of the midfielder’s exit have cooled off in recent weeks, there is still every chance that the once associated Tottenham Hotspur might renew their interest in the player.
With Forest now set to spend big on new players this summer, it appears that the club is planning a big-money transfer for a new defense.
Forest willing to spend big to attain target
According to French football news website Foot01, The Athletic reported on Monday that Forest are interested in signing Lyon defender Jake O’Brien. According to the report, Forest is so interested in the player that they are willing to invest the £30 million that Lyon owner John Textor is asking for.
This sum is viewed as a “crazy” fee by the French media, which describes it as a big rise on the rumored £1 million fee that Lyon paid to sign O’Brien from Crystal Palace just one year ago.
This comes only days after the two clubs agreed on a £27 million deal for Forest defender Moussa Niakhate to join Lyon. With the two teams currently communicating with one another, it appears quite likely that they will be able to make another deal.
O’Brien has enjoyed somewhat of a spectacular rise since he joined the French outfit from Crystal Palace last summer. In his first season with Lyon, the Irish defender appeared 32 times in all competitions, establishing himself as a vital member of the team that finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season.
The 23-year-old’s local performances earned him his first cap for the Irish national team in June 2024. Ireland’s interim coach, John O’Shea, expressed confidence in O’Brien’s development. telling the press: “As I believe Jake mentioned himself, the growth he’s had in terms of football knowledge over the last year or so has been fantastic.
“He has settled in well with the group. The level he is playing at is incredibly high. But clearly the quality of competition we have in that area of the pitch is quite good, so just go on with what he is doing, hopefully.”
With Niakhate on his way out of the City Ground, signing O’Brien would be a great move for Forest ahead of next season.
