Nottingham Forest have now submitted a formal £25m+ offer for an "elite" midfielder, who has already struck an agreement on personal terms, according to a report.
Forest stepping up midfielder pursuit after Europa League verdict
The Tricky Trees have controversially been admitted to next season's Europa League, as a result of issues surrounding multi-club ownership at Crystal Palace, with Eagles chairman Steve Parish putting out a strong statement after the verdict.
Parish said: "The decision by Uefa and followed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport shows that sporting merit is rendered meaningless. It appears that certain clubs, organisations and individuals have a unique privilege and power."
Parish has previously suggested that Forest are to blame for Palace's demotion, but Evangelos Marinakis is unlikely to care too much, given that his side are now set to embark on a Europa League campaign next season.
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Consequently, Nottingham Forest may now also be better-placed to attract some exciting new players, and a new midfielder is of particular interest, with Manchester City's James McAtee emerging as a major target.
Not only are Nuno Espirito Santo's side eager to sign an attacking midfielder, but they are also looking to bring in a player capable of operating in a deeper role, with it recently being revealed they are in active talks over a deal for AC Milan's Yunus Musah.
There has now been a new update on Forest's pursuit of Musah, with a report from TEAMtalk revealing they have now tabled an official offer of £25.9m including bonuses, which is close to the Italian club's asking price.
Milan are looking to hold out for just over £30m, which means the two clubs aren't too far apart, and should a fee be agreed, personal terms could be a formality, as an agreement in principle has already been reached on a deal until 2030.
With a move to Napoli now off the cards, the midfielder is open to a move to the Premier League, and the Tricky Trees could even slightly increase their bid to get a deal over the line.
"Elite" Musah could excel at the City Ground
The 47-cap USA star clearly has all the attributes of a top midfielder, having received very high praise from football talent scout Jacek Kulig for his performances at international level.
Still only 22-years-old, the New-York born midfielder already has plenty of experience at the top level, making 80 appearances for AC Milan, while also featuring seven times in the Champions League last season.
With Forest set to embark on a Europa League campaign next season, Nuno could do with bringing in players who have experience in big matches, and Musah certainly fits the bill.