Yahoo News Writing on the wall for Nottingham Forest favourite as Jorge Mendes’ World Cup winner linked
The transfer window is now open - and Nottingham Forest are expected to be busy again, as Nuno Espirito Santo gets the opportunity to work on his inherited squad over a sustained period for the very first time.
Forest have trimmed the fringes already. They've moved on Harry Arter, Wayne Hennessey, Felipe, Scott McKenna, Loic Mbe Soh and Cheikhou Kouyate already, while loanees Gio Reyna, Divock Origi, Nuno Tavares, Gonzalo Montiel and Rodrigo Ribeiro have also returned to their parent clubs.
While wary of the PSR rules which Forest have been stung by previously, there is a need for recruitment in various areas of the squad. Here are the latest transfer rumours and verdicts.
READ: Who is Carlos Miguel? Lowdown on giant goalkeeper set for Forest transfer
READ: Nottingham Forest Premier League fixtures 2024/2025 in full
Goalkeeping situation
Forest are expected to complete the signing of towering goalkeeper Carlos Miguel imminently as they address their goalkeeping department and seek to add more depth following the departure of Wayne Hennessey, although it leaves the future of Matt Turner in doubt.
Miguel, of Corinthians in his native Brazil, had a release clause inserted into his deal which Forest are understood to have triggered. The keeper will set the Reds back less than £4m once the move has been confirmed and will kickstart another interesting summer of recruitment at the City Ground.
The 25-year-old was born in Rio De Janeiro and began playing football as a teenager for Flamengo, before he joined Internacional. Loan moves to clubs in the lower divisions of the Brazilian football pyramid followed for Miguel and he spent time at both Santa Cruz and Boa Esporte - the latter was where he was granted a breakthrough in senior football.
NottinghamshireLive says: Miguel is highly rated and considering his age as a goalkeeper, the fees being bandied about would appear to be a shrewd piece of business. The bigger picture for Forest, though, is that they need clarity in the goalkeeping department.
Since coming back up, they've signed Dean Henderson, Keylor Navas, Matt Turner, Odysseas Vlachodimos and now Matz Sels, the latter of whom is currently first choice. While Hennessey has departed, Forest have a requirement to clear out the keeping department if possible this summer. Vlachodimos and Turner, you'd imagine, will be available for moves.
Forest if they're to start the new season with Sels and Miguel as one and two, hopefully those pursuits will finally bear fruit after a period of uncertainty and clouded thinking which have brought more failures than successes.
Worrall farewell?
Nottingham Forest are said to have opened talks over a transfer for Joe Worrall.
Defender Worrall’s future at the City Ground has been uncertain since he was loaned to Besiktas in February. The deal included an option for the Turkish club to make the transfer permanent in the summer.
Teamtalk report the Reds have opened talks with Sheffield United over a deal for the centre-back, having been a long-term target for the Blades, who were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season.
NottinghamshireLive says: While Worrall himself wouldn't be in a rush to leave his boyhood club, you'd imagine, the writing looks to be on the wall. Not too often in football will a player who has been loaned out, having been deemed not to be in the plans of the manager, returns and forces his way back in. And Worrall's loan in Turkey was only adequate.
Just 27, playing regularly ought to become before all else, even if that means having to drop back into the Championship, from which Worrall has secured promotion from previously. He ought to be a player with suitors, and who could earn Forest a few quid in the event a permanent deal can be struck, and as an academy product the pure profit in that scenario does little to harm the Reds' balance sheet.
First summer signing
Nottingham Forest are 'working on' the £4.6m signing of Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Stamenic having seemingly pipped Coventry City to the deal.
The 22-year-old is being reported by The Athletic as Forest 's potential first summer signing. However, this one won't be to bolster Nuno Espirito Santo 's ranks immediately as instead he will follow a loan pathway to Evangelos Marinakis ' other owned club Olympiacos in view of a bright career ahead.
Stamenic had been linked with a move to England over the last two weeks, though for those in sky blue it will come as a surprise that it will be to the City Ground and not the Coventry Building Society Arena. Our sister site, Coventry Live, explain how over two weeks of interest resulted in an agreement, although the player's reluctance to play in the second tier has led to the current outcome.
One for the future
Reports in Germany claim that Forest are closing in on the signing of Eric da Silva Moreira from St Pauli. The youngster is only 18 years old and is the subject of talks between Forest and his current club, with a deal set to be agreed for a fee in the region of €1.5m.
Moreira has citizenship with Germany and Portugal but represents the youth teams of the former. He is represented by Jorge Mendes' agency Gestifute. The teenager, who won the under 17 World Cup with Germany, is reportedly keen for the move to go through.
