Nottingham Forest are exploring a deal to sign Aston Villa star Matty Cash this summer, according to The Athletic.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side have had a busy transfer window so far as they look to build off the back of a solid campaign in 2024/25, adding in all of Angus Gunn, Jair Cunha, Igor Jesus, James McAtee, Omari Hutchinson, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Dan Ndoye, while a deal for Douglas Luiz is also close too.
But the Reds are also keen to strengthen their defence and have now identified an ex-player as a top target to fill that role.
Nottingham Forest Explore Matty Cash Deal
Aston Villa's Matty Cash celebrates.
Cash, who earns £80,000-a-week at Villa Park, left the City Ground back in 2020 to join Aston Villa and has been a regular in the Midlands ever since, with Unai Emery relying on him as his first-choice right-back.
But the 28-year-old is now in the final two years of his contract with the club, and Forest are now exploring the potential of making a move to bring the Poland international back to the club where he came through the academy.
There has been no formal approach yet between the clubs, and Forest are also keen on a deal for Manchester City defender Rico Lewis for the same position, and it's unlikely that they would sign both players.
Any deal for Cash could be difficult to do because of his wages, but it's also expected that he would cost considerably less than Lewis and that could make a deal more appealing to do.
Villa have also been struggling for cash this summer though and were somewhat forced to sell midfielder Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle in a deal worth slightly more than £40m, while winger Leon Bailey has left to join AS Roma on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy.
Aston Villa have held talks with Cash about potentially renewing his contract in recent months, but with Emery hopeful of adding a new defender and forward to his squad before the deadline, a sale is something that could be considered for the right price.
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