Nottingham Forest transfer notebook - striker 'regret', target's bumper release clause
The transfer business done by Nottingham Forest during the summer window has played a big part in the fine start to the season made by Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.
The Reds are unbeaten in their first four Premier League games and claimed a big 1-0 win over Liverpool last time out. Many of their summer signings have made positive early impressions.
But the transfer talk hasn’t stopped just because the window is closed. Below, we round up some of the latest Forest stories.
Missed opportunity?
The Reds have a good recent track record for recruiting in the South American market. In the summer, it emerged they had another Brazilian youngster on their target list.
Reports suggested a bid had been put forward for Palmeiras youngster Riquelme Fillipi, but he would not make the move until January if a deal did get done. It seems the 18-year-old is unlikely to be going anywhere any time soon, however - at least without any suitors stumping up a lot of cash.
According to Brazilian publication Globo Esporte, Forest put forward an offer of €6 million (£5m) for 80 percent of the player’s rights. It is said Palmeiras initially gave the “go-ahead” to the deal but then decided to tie down the attacker to fresh terms themselves.
The report states the teenager is set to sign a new four-year contract with Palmeiras. Included in the deal will be a €100m (£84m) release clause.
Striker ‘regret’
Forest looked at several options in a bid to bolster their forward ranks before the window closed on August 30. However, they didn’t manage to get a deal over the line for a front man.
Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez was among those on the Reds’ radar. And it seems it hasn’t been plain sailing since he reportedly turned down the chance to join Nuno’s side.
Gimenez is said to be struggling to find form this season. One observer has suggested his Dutch club might even be regretting not selling him to Forest.
“If you look at his (Gimenez’s) matches honestly, you don’t see a striker of whom you think: he stayed happily despite the fact that they (Nottingham Forest) wanted to pay €32m,” journalist Mikos Gouka said on Algemeen Dagblad’s football podcast (via Sport Witness). “You see a striker of whom you think: if only he had said yes to that offer.”
Feyenoord boss Brian Priske reportedly wouldn’t comment on suggestions Gimenez looks like he doesn’t want to be at the club. But he did admit he is working hard to get the Mexican back on top form so he can put the summer behind him.
“It has to do with expectations,” Priske told 1908.nl of the player’s dip in form. “They are high, both in terms of results and the performances of individual players. You hope that the key players perform at their maximum, and Gimenez is such a player. But to achieve that, a lot of things are right. Football is not that simple.
“Gimenez shows me every day that he wants to work hard, that he does his best. We have seen better games from him this season than the match against FC Groningen, but it is my job to make it more stable.”
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Deal ‘agreed’
Previous reports from Turkey suggested Forest made a bid for Galatasaray winger Baris Alper Yilmaz on deadline day. A €25 million (£21m) offer is said to have been put forward.
The latest update from Turkish media claims the Reds will now try to sign the player in January. Haber Aktuel say the 24-year-old is “expected” to make the switch to the City Ground as an “agreement” has been reached with Forest. Previous reports from Turkey have not always been reliable, though, so it remains to be seen whether a move happens.