Nottingham Forest are said to have held talks regarding a potential summer swoop for Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka.
Changes will be made to head coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad when the transfer window opens next month. Incomings and outgoings are on the cards as the Reds look to strengthen after securing European football for the first time in three decades.
Matz Sels has been outstanding for Forest this term and has been key to their challenge for Champions League qualification. However, the club will likely still assess their options between the posts at the end of the season.
According to Polish publication Meczyki, Poland international Bulka is on the Reds’ radar. Discussions are said to have taken place with the player’s agents.
Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Chelsea are said to have done the same. Meczyki report the four Premier League sides are “offering similar money” for the 25-year-old - in the region of €8 million (£6.7m). Talks are said to be “ongoing”.
Bulka has a year left to run on his contract with Nice, making a summer move “probable” as the French club look to avoid losing him for free in 12 months’ time. AS Monaco and Turkish outfit Galatasaray have also been credited with an interest, but the man himself is said to be keen on heading to the UK.
Bulka spent time at Chelsea as a youngster but failed to make the breakthrough from the academy to the senior set-up. He went on to sign for Paris Saint-Germain, where he had several loan spells before joining Nice on a permanent basis in 2022.
The Pole has since racked up more than 70 Ligue 1 appearances and will want to continue as first-choice at his next destination. Whether that would be the case at the City Ground is up for debate.
It would take some doing to unseat Sels between the posts as the Belgian has been magnificent for Forest and is in the running for the Premier League’s Golden Glove award. However, the Reds may well assess their back-up options in the summer.
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Carlos Miguel is currently second-choice at the club but has been linked with a move elsewhere this summer. Wayne Hennessey is third-choice but is coming to the end of his contract and is set to move on.
Forest also have Matt Turner still on the books. The American is on loan at Crystal Palace and has spoken about his wish to play regularly.
Nuno’s side go into their final match of the campaign, at home to Chelsea on Sunday (4pm kick-off), with European football already guaranteed. However, it remains to be determined which competition they will test themselves in - with securing a top-five spot to clinch a place in the Champions League still a possibility.
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