In what would be one of the most surprising moves of the summer, Nottingham Forest have reportedly joined the race to sign a striker who once silenced the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest plotting shock striker move
With nine games to go, Champions League qualification is currently theirs for the taking and after enjoying victories over Manchester City and Ipswich Town before the international break, Forest look unlikely to relent. And with their place among Europe's elite growing more and more likely, it's no surprise to see the transfer rumours coming thick and fast.
Names as big as Viktor Gyokeres have even been mentioned in recent weeks in what would be among the moves of the summer. The Sporting Club forward is one of the most clinical strikers that European football has to offer and Champions League qualification would leave Forest in a realistic race for his signature.
Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres
It seems as though adding another forward to Nuno Espirito Santo's side is set to be among the priorities this summer too, whether it's Gyokeres or another option. As impressive as Chris Wood has been this season, there's no telling how long his peak will last now that he's 33 years old.
With that said, the Midlands club have reportedly set their sights on a shock target. According to TeamTalk, Nottingham Forest are now plotting a move to sign Darwin Nunez, whose Liverpool exit has become inevitable in recent months amid links to Al-Hilal and other Saudi Pro League sides.
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga celebrates scoring their second goal with Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ola Aina and Nicolas Dominguez Related
[Nuno loves him: Nottingham Forest working on deal for "fantastic" £20m star](https://www.footballfancast.com/nottingham-forest-working-on-deal-for-yoane-wissa/ "Nuno loves him: Nottingham Forest working on deal for "fantastic" £20m star")
The forward has now been identified as the Tricky Trees' priority target for the summer transfer window.
Joined by Atletico Madrid and potentially Newcastle United, Forest will reportedly chase the forward's signature in pursuit of ending his Anfield nightmare. The 25-year-old is into his third season at Liverpool and with the excuse of settling in no longer available, Arne Slot looks destined to show his out-of-form forward the door this summer having originally spurned Saudi clubs' advances in January.
Liverpool's trash could quickly become Forest's treasure, however, if they swoop in and get the best out of Nunez.
Signing Nunez would be major risk
After reportedly arriving for around £85m in 2022, it remains to be seen just how much Liverpool will demand to sell Nunez this summer but there's no doubt his valuation has dropped. In three years at the club, the former Benfica man has scored just 25 goals in 88 appearances in the Premier League. Wood in this season alone, meanwhile, has scored 18 goals in 29 league games.
That said, for all the negativity surrounding Nunez, Forest managed to get a first-hand glimpse of what he's capable of last season when he came from the bench to score a last-gasp winner to silence the City Ground.
Earning a reported £140,000-a-week at Liverpool, Nunez's status as transfer flop looks destined to be confirmed this summer. Whether Forest or another side take advantage of that and attempt to turn that narrative on its head remains to be seen.
At a crossroads, the 25-year-old striker has a crucial decision to make when the transfer window arrives.