With the summer transfer window approaching, Nottingham Forest have now reportedly set their sights on a defensive addition who's been back to his best form this season.
Nottingham Forest transfer news
Those in the City Ground boardroom will be keen for the summer transfer window to arrive perhaps just to put their potential Champions League status to the test. As things stand, Forest still sit as high as third in the Premier League and on course to seal the shock of the season by qualifying for Europe's elite competition. And that should open several new doors for Nuno Espirito Santo's side.
A number of potential additions have already threatened to steal the headlines on that front too, from Bright Osayi-Samuel all the way to Inter Milan's Davide Frattesi, and it looks as though the Reds are ready to be bold when the summer arrives.
Bright-Osayi-Samuel-Leeds-Championship
Of course, the aim should be to maintain their surprise Champions League place and welcome reinforcements in search of a permanent top four place. Whether that comes through signing the likes of Frattesi remains to be seen, however. Instead, before anything, those in the Midlands could turn towards a defensive addition.
According to TeamTalk, Nottingham Forest are now plotting an opening bid to sign Hugo Bueno from Wolverhampton Wanderers, but face competition from Championship promotion contenders Leeds United.
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The left-back has enjoyed a much-improved campaign on loan at Feyenoord, attracting plenty of interest as a result and the admiration of those higher up at the City Ground. Now, Wolves could cash in as Nottingham Forest look to benefit from signing another rival star.
If those in the Midlands cast their minds back, it wasn't so long ago that they were welcoming Morgan Gibbs-White from Wolves and if Bueno completes a similar move before enjoying a similar rise then Forest are in for quite the treat this summer.
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In a race to become Wolves' main man down the left-hand side, it was ultimately Rayan Ait-Nouri who came out on top as Bueno was forced to seek a starting spot out on loan. Just one season later, whilst no one is doubting Ait-Nouri's own ability, Bueno has gone on to steal headlines of his own and could come back to haunt his parent club next season.
Whether Wolves sell to Nottingham Forest once again will certainly be interesting to see, especially given that they'd be selling a player who Matt Hobbs has had plenty of praise for.
The Wolves sporting director told the club's official website when asked about Ait-Nouri and Bueno in 2023: "It’s interesting because we are blessed in that area of the pitch. We’ve got two young, exciting left-backs/left wing-backs, who are slightly different, but both have huge talent, so it’s a nice little battle between them.
“Hugo played a lot last year, Rayan has started this season exceptionally well and has kept his shirt through his performance. It’s good for them that they’re competing against each other, they’re really close as well, so it’s a healthy competition, and we will see the benefits of that from both of their performances.”