Nottingham Forest are looking for new faces and have expressed interest in one ace for a move to the City Ground ahead of the next Premier League season.
Nottingham Forest preparing for Nuno’s first full season
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season after receiving a points deduction for violating the league’s financial fair play criteria last season.
They will be looking for a far more pleasant season this time around, and they have already made numerous fresh additions in an attempt to avoid relegation next May.
The Garibaldi shattered their transfer record when they paid £35 million to get teenage star Elliot Anderson from Newcastle United. They’ve also signed Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic for £12 million, after the Serbian drew interest from Premier League rivals Manchester United and West Ham.
However, attacking additions are still required, with 32-year-old Chris Wood potentially unlikely to duplicate his outstanding season and Taiwo Awoniyi’s enormous potential at the City Ground hampered by injury. The club’s 49 goals in 2023/24 were the fourth fewest in the division, playing a significant role in their relegation battle. They may now have found a solution.
Nottingham Forest chasing free striker
Kelechi Iheanacho, a free agent, is free to select his next club after his £80,000 per week contract with newly promoted Leicester City expired at the end of the 2023/24 season.
Iheanacho, once regarded as one of Europe’s brightest talents, spent several seasons as Manchester City’s backup to Sergio Aguero, with some predicting he would eventually replace the Argentine.
City manager Pep Guardiola was also effusive in his praise for the Nigerian striker, calling him “incredible” ahead of a reunion with him at Leicester City.
“Incredible,” Guardiola explained when quizzed on his former striker’s recent performances. “The quality was there, he was a young player here and I believe in that moment with Gabriel and Sergio we didn’t have much space. He is a fantastic person, we had a good relationship, and I’m delighted it’s going well lately.”
According to Football Insider, Forest are one of two Premier League clubs vying for Iheanacho, with newly promoted Ipswich Town also interested in the 27-year-old, who has a contract offer in Turkey.
They claim that the pair are “hopeful of convincing him to stay in England” and that both “are now set to make formal contract proposals to the striker” in an attempt to persuade him to select them after expressing their interest and, by extension, making contact.
Iheanacho was often disregarded by Enzo Maresca last season, scoring only five goals in 23 games for the Foxes, but he would bring plenty of Premier League experience, having scored 42 times in the top tier. As a squad player, he may be a terrific addition to the Reds.
