Nottingham Forest are showing serious ambition this summer transfer window.
Evangelos Marinakis is ready to invest heavily in Nottingham Forest, and already, two deals are in the pipeline with Botofogo duo Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha set to complete a switch to the City Ground.
Forest are also looking at Goztepe striker Romulo after netting 17 goals whilst laying on 10 assists for the Turkish side.
Brentford’s Yoane Wissa continued to be linked with the Tricky Trees and there has been a suggestion that a bid was tabled last week.
Now, a fresh transfer development is emerging, as Nottingham Forest open talks to sign a playmaker on the continent.
Roma's Alexis Saelemaekers in action against Hellas Verona.
Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Nottingham Forest in talks to sign AC Milan playmaker Alexis Saelemaekers
Forest have been eyeing Alexis Saelemaekers for a while, with links to the Belgian winger dating back to last summer.
Saelemaekers, who is contracted to AC Milan, spent last season on loan at Roma and enjoyed a really productive season on the right wing.
The 16-cap international registered 14 goal involvements for the Serie A giants, who finished in fifth, one point behind fourth-placed Juventus.
32 appearances
7 goals
7 assists
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Now, according to TEAMtalk, Forest are in talks to sign Saelemaekers with Nuno Espirito Santo considering him a ‘strong option’.
There is a little distance in valuation at this stage, as the East Midlands want to strike a £17m deal whilst Milan are demanding £21m.
But the gap isn’t too wide, so it looks like there’s real legs to this transfer.
Saelemaekers is one of the best playmakers in Europe
Saelemaekers is an extremely creative wide player and is actually one of the best playmakers in Europe, according to FBref data.
The 25-year-old ranks in the top one per cent for shot-creating actions per 90 compared to his positional peers across Europe.
Saelemaekers also sits in the top 15 per cent for assists, so his playmaking ability is undoubtedly among the best.
He’d be a totally unique profile for Forest and one that’d certainly give them another option from the pace and trickery currently on the flanks.
So, if they do manage to reach an agreement, it’d be a really exciting addition.