Nottingham Forest could soon be approached for a round of 'intense' transfer talks as one club eye a cut-price deal for one of their players.
Forest braced for FC Porto tie with European dream still on
Forest return to European action on Thursday night with their quarter-final second leg against FC Porto finely balanced at 1-1.
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The first meeting in Portugal left the tie open, but also exposed the scale of the task ahead. Forest fell behind early and struggled to gain control for long spells, with the hosts creating the clearer chances throughout the game.
In the end, the equaliser came in unusual fashion, as a long back-pass from a Porto defender went straight into his own net.
Forest offered limited attacking threat across the 90 minutes, and their goal came without a shot on target, while Porto forced multiple saves and saw further chances go close late on.
That leaves the return leg at the City Ground with a simple equation. The score is level, but the underlying numbers point in Porto’s favour.
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The Portuguese side have won five of their last seven European matches and average over 1.6 goals per game, while Forest’s record remains more modest.
Forest will take encouragement from their resilience, but there is a clear need for more going forward if they are to progress.
That context matters heading into a decisive night, and it also feeds into wider planning behind the scenes.
One of those situations involves Arnaud Kalimuendo, whose future is now back under discussion.
Eintracht planning 'intense' Forest talks over cut-price Kalimuendo deal
The striker is currently on loan at Eintracht, where he has made a strong early impression.
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Since arriving in January, he has contributed six goals and an assist in the Bundesliga alone, building a strong case for a permanent move.
However, the situation is not straightforward.
BILD report that Frankfurt are not prepared to meet the original purchase clause, which is set at around £23 million. Instead, they are expected to return with a revised offer at a lower figure.
That shift opens the door for fresh talks, and Eintracht are planning 'intense negotiations' with Forest as they try to bring Kalimuendo's price down.
From Forest’s point of view, it creates a decision. Kalimuendo is performing away from the club, but the valuation gap means any deal will need to be renegotiated. There is no indication at this stage that an agreement is close.
There is also a football angle to consider.
Nottingham Forest's Arnaud Kalimuendo in action
Forest are not a high-scoring side. In Europe this season, they have averaged under two goals per game, and in matches like the first leg against Porto, they have relied heavily on defensive work and moments rather than sustained attacking pressure.
That places extra weight on their forward options heading into next season.
Kalimuendo’s numbers in Germany suggest he could offer a solution.
Regular minutes have brought returns, and his role in Frankfurt’s attack has been consistent. But whether that translates into a place back at Forest — or into a reduced transfer fee — remains unclear.
The timing is also important.
Forest are still competing on two fronts, balancing a European quarter-final with a tight relegation battle, so decisions on transfers will follow after a pivotal next month.
For now, the focus stays on Porto.
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