Yahoo News Nottingham Forest wait for sell-on windfall as Murillo discusses Liverpool ‘opportunity’
Nottingham Forest’s transfer window is well and truly up and running with the Reds already active buyers and sellers in the market.
Elliot Anderson recently joined Marko Stamenic and Eric da Silva Moreira in the City Ground arrivals lounge, while Orel Mangala and Moussa Niakhate have both departed, along with several out of contract stars. The transfer rumour is in overdrive regarding Murillo’s future, particularly with the player himself adding fuel to talk of an exit.
Here’s what’s been going on.
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Orel clause
Details of the fee Nottingham Forest have received from Lyon for midfielder Orel Mangala have been confirmed.
The Belgian’s transfer to the French side was announced on Tuesday, bringing to an end his two-year spell with the Reds. Mangala spent the second half of last season on loan at Lyon and it was always expected they would activate the option to buy included as part of the deal.
Confirming the 26-year-old’s move, the Ligue 1 outfit said they had paid €23.4m (about £20m) to secure his services. In a statement they also said the Reds have a 10 percent sell-on clause for the player.
Lyon said: “Arriving this winter from Nottingham Forest on loan, Orel Mangala is now tied to OL until June 30, 2028. The acquisition amount is £20 million (around 23.4m euros), with Nottingham Forest also retaining a 10 percent interest on the capital gain of a possible future transfer.
According to French newspaper L’Equipe, the transfer fee is in addition to money Forest will have received for loaning out Mangala. It is said the loan fee amounted to €11.7m (about £10m). As previously reported, it means the total package comes in at about £30m.
Interest rekindled
Forest are said to have reignited their interest in Wolfsburg midfielder Aster Vranckx, having first been linked with the 21-year-old two years ago – before he joined AC Milan on loan.
It seems Vranckx could be on the move again this summer. But once again, Forest could face a fight for his signature. According to HITC, Forest are “still in pursuit” of the Belgium international - as are Everton, who also had their eye on him in 2022. Fulham and Brighton and Hove Albion are said to be keeping tabs on him as well.
It is Crystal Palace, though, who are seemingly in pole position to potentially snap him up. They are said to be the only club “to progress in discussions” as it stands.
Vranckx has 12 months remaining on his contract, making it likely Wolfsburg will look to cash in. The German side are said to be prepared to let the player go for a fee in the region of £15 million.
Speaking out
In-demand defender Murillo expects talks over his future to take place when he returns to Nottingham Forest for pre-season.
The 21-year-old is on the wish-list of a number of clubs this summer after catching the eye for the Reds during his first campaign in English football. And he has admitted there is still uncertainty over whether he will remain at the City Ground .
Chelsea are said to have approached Forest about the possibility of doing a deal but would balk at the £60m fee. Murillo told journalist Benjamin Back in an interview for his Benja Me Mucho YouTube channel: "We don’t know anything for certain, the window opened last month so I’m going to return to Forest for pre-season. There might be some discussions on whether I’ll stay or not so there’s a lot of things to happen still but I’m relaxed."
When asked about which other Premier League club he would like to play for, Murillo added: “I’d choose Manchester City but it would be more difficult for me to be a regular starter given the players they have in their squad. There’s City, Arsenal as well, who are fighting for the Premier League title. I wouldn’t discard Liverpool either, it would be a good opportunity for me to show my football in a big club.”
