Nottingham Forest agree deal to sign highly rated right-back who publicly declared his admiration for Liverpool
Nottingham Forest growing financial strength has placed the club in a strong position to compete for some of Europe’s most promising young talent this summer.
Forest have significantly boosted their spending power following Elliot Anderson’s £116 million move to Manchester City, giving them greater flexibility in the transfer market.
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That financial backing now appears to be helping Forest move ahead of several high-profile rivals in the race for Feyenoord right-back Givairo Read.
Liverpool have long been linked with the Dutch youngster, but the latest reports suggest the Premier League club from the City Ground are leading the pursuit.
According to De Telegraaf, Read has reached a verbal agreement with Nottingham Forest over a five-year contract and is now waiting for the two clubs to settle on a transfer fee. Forest’s latest offer is reported to be worth €22 million, with the club prepared to increase the package to €25 million if required.
The development is likely to disappoint some Liverpool supporters given Read’s previous comments about the Reds. In 2025, the 20-year-old openly declared Liverpool as his favourite Premier League club when asked to choose between Manchester United and Manchester City.
“Liverpool, for sure! Nothing else, no one else,” Read replied, making his admiration for the Merseyside club clear despite interest from elsewhere.
Despite that public admiration, Liverpool have not emerged as the frontrunners for his signature. Instead, Forest appear to have made the most decisive progress, with personal terms already agreed and negotiations now focused on reaching an agreement with Feyenoord.
The Dutch club have attempted to persuade Read to remain in Rotterdam by offering him a contract extension until 2029. However, De Telegraaf reports that the defender is keen on a move to the Premier League, where he would earn around four times his current salary.
Read is regarded as one of the Eredivisie’s brightest young full-backs after breaking into Feyenoord’s first team. His performances have attracted attention from several clubs, but Forest’s willingness to invest heavily after Anderson’s record-breaking sale has placed them in a commanding position.
A deal has not yet been completed, with Feyenoord and Nottingham Forest still negotiating the transfer fee. Nevertheless, the reported verbal agreement with the player represents a significant step forward, leaving Forest well placed to complete the signing unless another club intervenes before an agreement is reached.
Givairo Read
Nottingham Forest