£25m striker, the 'next Murillo' - key Nottingham Forest transfer targets as deadline day looms
It might have been a quiet January window so far for Nottingham Forest but the transfer rumour mill has certainly been in full swing.
Clubs have until 11pm on Monday (February 3) to get their winter business done. The Reds are set to have an interesting few days ahead.
Forest have been linked with a number of players as they look to strengthen Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad. Below, we round up the Reds’ reported list of targets.
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Yoane Wissa (Brentford)
Adding a striker is top of Forest’s to-do list before the window closes. An initial bid, said to be in the region of £18-22 million, was rebuffed for Bees forward Wissa but it would come as no surprise if the Reds try their luck again.
Earlier in the window, Brentford boss Thomas Frank said a move for the 28-year-old “will not happen”. And he has since reiterated the club’s intention to hang on to one of their key players.
“There is a lot of rumours,” he said. “For me, again he is a Brentford player and in my opinion Wissa is not for sale. He has been our leading number nine and done fantastic, so I cannot see why we should sell him."
Wissa was asked about Forest’s interest by Canal+ Sport Africa earlier this week. His reply translated as: “There is an interest, there is an interest. Possible transfers in progress, I cannot say. But it’s true that there has been interest since this summer. They are having a very good season and I too am continuing my momentum. It's true that for the moment I'm focused on Brentford but we'll see what happens.”
Igor Jesus (Botafogo)
Links with the 23-year-old Brazilian first emerged towards the end of last year when he made his debut for the national team. This week, it was reported the Reds had made a bid for him.
A €30m (£25m) offer is said to have been put forward. However, Jesus reportedly turned down the transfer.
Brazilian publication Globo Esporte claim Botafogo considered Forest’s bid to be “interesting” but the player himself rejected a move to the City Ground and put an end to any deal. It is claimed the wages on offer did not interest Jesus, who believes staying at Botafogo is currently the best thing for his career. It remains to be seen whether the Reds could try to change his mind by putting more money on the table.
Douglas Luiz (Juventus)
The midfielder made the move to Italy from Aston Villa in a £40m-plus deal but it hasn’t exactly worked out for him. Injuries have hampered Luiz and he has mostly had to settle for a substitutes’ role.
A departure could be on the cards, and it seems he is not short of potential suitors. The Reds are said to be in the mix.
According to Brazilian publication Bolavip, the 26-year-old favours joining either Forest or Manchester City. The reigning Premier League champions are said to be targeting a straight loan for the player. However, Juve would reportedly prefer a permanent transfer or a loan with an obligation to buy.
It is claimed the Reds are “trying” to sign Luiz and would be “willing to make a bigger investment” than their Premier League rivals to secure his services. The midfielder’s agents are said to be “in frequent contact” with European teams as a move is sought. Chelsea, Manchester United and Fulham have also been linked.
Nasser Djiga (Red Star Belgrade)
Defence is not the obvious area in need of strengthening but that hasn’t stopped the Reds being linked with 22-year-old centre-back Djiga. Reports from Serbia have suggested Forest are “preparing for the possible departure” of Murillo, although the Brazilian is unlikely to be on the move any time soon as he has just penned a new deal Trentside.
Nevertheless, earlier this week it was claimed Forest are offering £7.5m to snap up Djiga as they “step up” their efforts to sign him. Red Star have put an £8.3m price tag on the player’s head.
Miran Pavlin, who was appointed as international sporting advisor at the City Ground last August, is said to be playing “a key role” in discussions for Forest. According to The Mirror, the Reds are one of three Premier League teams with an interest in Djiga.
