Yahoo News What next for Nottingham Forest's loan flops
Something of a transfer maelstrom has already whipped up around Nottingham Forest, with scores of names being linked with a move to the City Ground – but only one so far seemingly relatively secure in the knowledge he’ll be wearing Garibaldi Red next season.
That’s Brazilian goalkeeper Carlos Miguel who is set for a medical at some point this week and will become the latest man to try to fill the club’s Brice Samba-sized hole. At 6ft 8ins and for a relatively small fee of around £4million the 25-year-old seems to have a shot at doing that, certainly if reviews in his homeland are anything to go by.
As for other positions there’s talk about centre backs, full backs, strikers, midfielders, virtually every other position as the Premier League ’s most active recruiters of recent years continue to attract speculation.
One thing that looks clear though is that none of last season’s loan players will be returning to the club, with very few of the half-dozen who joined making much of an impression. Indeed this summer it seems as if they are all set for a new adventure.
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Gonzalo Montiel
The right back joined from Sevilla last summer but would only play 14 Premier League games and while he came with an option to buy it’s not looking like that’s one which will be exercised. As things stand he’s currently away with Argentina at the Copa America. There’s not too many rumours about his future at the moment but he has five years left on his deal and will no doubt be aware of the fact the coach who signed him for Sevilla, Julen Lopetegui is now in charge at West Ham.
Andrey Santos
Made virtually no impact on loan from Chelsea for what was supposed to be the season but in reality ended in January. Midfielder Santos made only two appearances for Forest before returning to Stamford Bridge and being quickly reassigned to Strasbourg where he started nine of 13 Ligue 1 games.
At the start of the summer it looked as though he would return to Chelsea for a crack at the first team but now The Athletic are reporting he could after all be sent back to Strasbourg but might ‘need convincing’.
Nuno Tavares
Joined from Arsenal, also for the 23/24 campaign with a £12 m option to buy. However, he too made little impression and managed only five Premier League starts and 12 appearances in all. Forest confirmed at the end of the season Forest were sending him back to Arsenal where he has just one year left on his contract.
Divock Origi
The 29-year-old arrived in the January transfer window and did at least see regular-ish game-time. One goal from 22 games was not enough to ease the goalscoring strain on Chris Wood though and his time at the City Ground can hardly be considered a success.
He returns to Milan with two years left on his contract and talk in the Italian press that he is sure to be move on and are ‘not destined to remain for long’ under new boss Paulo Fonseca. It’s even speculated he could have his deal paid up.
Gio Reyna
Forest did not have an option to buy the American when he came on loan from Borussia Dortmund in the winter window. Once again, he struggled to make an impact. He is currently away with the USA at the Copa America, and is well-regarded by their head coach Gregg Berhalter.
However his future is not totally clear even though he signed a new deal with Dortmund before he moved to Forest. He recently spoke about it: “I’m really focused on the national team at the moment. There’s been discussions and I’m not quite sure what’s going to happen. I just want to go somewhere that is at the highest possible level, but still play an important role, get consistent minutes and be an important player for any team, whether it’s at Dortmund or somewhere else. I’m just looking for the right fit for me, playing at a high level and a club that wants me — where I feel valued.”
Rodrigo Ribeiro
The 19-year-old joined from Sporting but never made the breakthrough at Forest. The Reds have not taken up the option to buy and he returns to the Portuguese capital where he will try to force his way into the picture there.
