Evangelos Marinakis’ intervention has put Nottingham Forest on the ‘right track’ to snap up Douglas Luiz, it has been claimed.
The Reds have had their eye on the Juventus midfielder for some time amid their summer reshaping of Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad. It appears they are now getting close to landing their target less than a fortnight before the transfer deadline.
According to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, a telephone call between Forest owner Marinakis and Juve managing director Damien Comolli took place on Monday.
The conversation between the two men has been described as the key that ‘unlocks the deal’ as only a few ‘details’ are missing for an agreement to be completed.
Luiz is said to be ‘waiting for the final approval’ to seal his return to the Premier League. If he does complete a switch to the City Ground, it would make him Forest’s eighth signing of the transfer window.
Igor Jesus, Jair Cunha, Dan Ndoye, Angus Gunn, Omari Hutchinson, James McAtee and Arnaud Kalimuendo have already put pen to paper for the Reds this summer.
Ensuring head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has sufficient strength in depth to compete on several fronts by the time the window closes on September 1 is the aim for the club.
Everton have also been credited with an interest in former Aston Villa man Luiz, while West Ham United were linked not so long ago. But it is Forest who appear to be in pole position to secure his signature, with the 27-year-old said to be ‘destined’ for the banks of the Trent.
A fee of ‘just over’ €30 million (£26m) has been mooted, although it could be the figure is part of a loan with an obligation to buy deal. Tuttosport have described it as a ‘costly loan with a relatively manageable, easy buyout’.
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Luiz penned a five-year deal when he made his €50m (£43m) move to Juventus from Villa last summer. However, it proved to be a tough season in Serie A for the midfielder, with just three league starts to his name.
Forest made a winning start to their 2025/26 Premier League campaign at the weekend, beating Brentford 3-1 at the City Ground. Ibrahim Sangare and Elliot Anderson started in midfield for Nuno’s men, highlighting the competition Luiz could face Trentside.
But with the Reds looking to build on last season’s seventh-placed finish and preparing to compete in Europe for the first time in three decades, strength in depth across the pitch will be key. Next up for Forest is a trip to face Crystal Palace on Sunday (2pm kick-off).
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