Nottingham Forest miss out as free agent completes Serie A transfer
After being linked with making a switch to Nottingham Forest as a free agent, French defender Oumar Solet has now been confirmed as Udinese's latest signing.
Part of the overhaul during Nuno Espirito Santo 's first summer transfer window at the City Ground was tightening up the team's defence. To this end, whilst also battling Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) Moussa Niakhate and Joe Worrall were sold, Scott McKenna and Loic Mbe Soh were moved on plus finally Felipe retired altogether. Only then were two new faces able to arrive - Nikola Milenkovic and Morato.
Adding to existing options Murillo and Willy Boly, perhaps the revamp was complete. But still in mid-September Forest were linked with a move outside of the bounds of the regulated transfer period to recruit free agent Solet.
The 24-year-old had departed Red Bull Salzburg of Austria upon the expiry of his contract in July. Formerly an academy product of Lyon, he has racked up 169 senior appearances in football and may have been a valuable asset.
Aston Villa, West Ham and Wolves were all also rumoured to be on high alert, however the opportunity has now passed every single one of them and Forest as Italian outfit Udinese have confirmed the Frenchman's signing on a two-and-a-half-year contract, officially starting in January 2025.
So for now at least Nuno seems content with his current defensive options, who have aided the club's unbeaten five-game streak to start the season prior to last weekend's loss. That said, the space is still there in his squad to add a free agent signing.
Next season the manager will also have David Carmo - another summer arrival from FC Porto - return from his loan with other Evangelos Marinakis-owned club Olympiacos.