Nottingham Forest 'set for talks' as transfer interest in £16.5m attacker reignited
Nottingham Forest have reportedly reignited interest in Galatasaray attacker Baris Yilmaz ahead of the January transfer window opening.
The Reds will have from tomorrow (January 1) until 11pm on February 3 to get any winter business done. And given Nuno Espirito Santo’s side sit second in the Premier League table, the club know plenty is riding on overseeing the right deals.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis and head coach Nuno have both indicated minimal tinkering is required, so it could be a relatively quiet month at the City Ground. However, the top end of the pitch is one area certainly in need of strengthening.
Back in the summer, reports from his Turkish homeland suggested Forest were unsuccessful with a deadline day bid for Yilmaz as they looked to bolster their attacking resources. According to Turkish publication Star, the Reds have now revived their interest going into January.
The report suggests the 24-year-old is “very close” to a Premier League move and that Forest are one of the teams eager to snap him up. A potential fee of around €20 million (£16.5m) is mentioned, although Galatasaray are said to want more than that. It is claimed the two sides are “expected to start talks soon”.
Turkey international Yilmaz can play as a winger or a striker. So far this season he has notched up nine league goals from 16 appearances.
The Reds made signing wingers a priority in the summer, bringing in Jota Silva and Ramon Sosa to provide cover and competition for Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi. A forward will be top of their agenda next month as extra back-up is needed for Chris Wood, especially as Taiwo Awoniyi is yet to get going this term.
