Nottingham Forest are planning for a transformative summer transfer window.
Evangelos Marinakis is ready to hand Nuno Espirito Santo a healthy budget as he aims to make Nottingham Forest regular challengers for the European spots.
Forest are already eyeing Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap and there have been links to Italy international Mattia Zaccagni over the last week or so.
Nuno Espirito Santo wants to make five quality additions, and by all accounts, a striker, winger, central midfielder and full-back are all on the list.
With that said, there’s been a fresh update about a midfield target.
Photo by Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images
Photo by Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images
Nottingham Forest finding it difficult to deal with Southampton over Mateus Fernandes
Nottingham Forest are reportedly eyeing Southampton star Mateus Fernandes ahead of the summer transfer window.
Telegraph reporter John Percy was asked about Forest’s interest in Fernandes on a podcast this week, and he revealed that Southampton have made a ‘ridiculous’ demand.
“Fernandes is another one, I think they looked at Fernandes in January actually, as a potential,” Percy explained.
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“He’ll have a lot of interest but Southampton are asking for ridiculous money for players, so they’re not very easy to deal with at the moment, which is obviously what does happen at clubs when they just get relegated as a very sort of stubborn stance they adopt.
“To be fair he’s another brilliant player who will have a lot of competition.”
Forest may turn their attention to Douglas Luiz instead
It’s thought the Saints are demanding well in excess of £30m for Fernandes, so Forest may turn their attention to Juventus star Douglas Luiz.
Marinakis has already been told it’ll take £34m to sign Luiz, which seems a much better use of the funds given the former Aston Villa man has performed at the highest level.
The Brazilian is a much safer option and one that’d get supporters excited ahead of the new season. Luiz is still only 26 and has his best years ahead of him.
It has been reported that Forest may look at an initial loan before committing to making the deal permanent.
A telling summer awaits on the red side of the East Midlands.