Nottingham Forest 'watch' Championship hot-shot as six clubs join in transfer chase
Nottingham Forest are said to be among a number of Premier League clubs eyeing up Burnley attacker Luca Koleosho.
The 20-year-old has started the Championship season in fine form and has seemingly attracted no shortage of admirers. The Reds are reportedly among them.
According to HITC, Forest have sent representatives to watch Koleosho in recent weeks as they run the rule over his performances. But they are not the only ones keeping tabs on the youngster.
Aston Villa, Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace are also said to be monitoring the Italy Under-21 international, while Newcastle United have now joined the chase. Their interest comes on the back of Wolverhampton Wanderers failing with a bid for him this summer.
Koleosho, who can operate as a left winger or a forward, signed for the Clarets from Espanyol in July 2023 for a reported £2.6 million fee. Last season he scored one goal in 15 appearances as Burnley were relegated from the Premier League. This time around he has two goals from five Championship games.
Forest strengthened their wide options for this term by bringing in Jota Silva and Ramon Sosa. The duo have made a positive impact so far and came off the bench to play key roles in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Brighton and Hove Albion. Trailing 2-1 with 20 minutes to go, Jota set up his fellow substitute to bag a crucial equaliser for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.
The Reds had hoped to add a forward before the transfer window closed last month but were unable to get a deal for a striker over the line. Nuno has said Jota and Sosa are capable of filling in up front once they find their feet in English football, but Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi will shoulder the biggest responsibility for leading the line - at least until January.
"We know and trust who we have, and we have solutions. It's up to us to develop these versatile players I think can do these positions,” Nuno has said on the club’s failure to sign a striker.
"In the transfer window we were looking for many options that could help us. The main thing was we looked for someone who could improve us and someone who wanted to be with us. These two things are very important.
"There was no disappointment (at not signing a striker) at all. The main objective was to keep the players we wanted to keep - this is something which is good for us in the development of the squad and afterwards knowing we have solutions. To believe in them, trust them and to develop them."