Nottingham Forest transfer latest with Chris Wood 'contract breakthrough' amid Mo Salah comparison
Nottingham Forest are reported to be on the verge of a Chris Wood contract breakthrough.
The 13-goal striker, aged 33, has led Forest’s charge towards the top of the Premier League this season but he is currently set to become a free agent in the summer.
Wood joined Forest from Newcastle United two years ago on a loan deal that would become permanent for about £15 million and although he only scored once in his first half-season, he has been a regular on the scoresheet particularly since Nuno Espirito Santo took charge.
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The New Zealand international found the net 14 times in the league 2023/24 and has scored 13 so far this term and he has been in talks with Forest about extending his stay at the City Ground.
Darren Fletcher, presenting on BBC 5Live, said: “He’s scored 43.3 per cent of Forest’s goals, which is the biggest share of a team’s goals scored by one player. He’s above Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer, Mo Salah and Alexander Isak in that metric.
“I don’t know whether it’s come out today but I think he’s on the verge of signing a new contract as well, which would be big for Forest. It’s up in the summer.”
Pundit Michael Brown teased the Nottingham-based host by saying: “I keep saying to him ‘Chris Wood to Arsenal’ and he’s going mad. He’s not going anywhere is he.”
The discussions have been picked up by Sam Wallace in the Telegraph, who suggests that clubs are changing their offers to players in their 30s, no matter their status.
If there are banners on the Kop telling Liverpool to ‘give Mo Salah whatever he wants’ to stay, Wallace writes: “The attitude at Forest is different. Wood is believed to be the club’s highest-paid player. That contract may have included a reduction in the terms in this, his second year. Forest’s position is understood to be that, at 33, Wood has to expect a fall in the second year of any new contract, regardless of what he might have achieved.
“It gets to the heart of what makes these negotiations so difficult, be it for a giant figure like Salah or for Wood – a giant for Forest this season who after years changing clubs and lots of goals, at last seems to have found his niche in the surprise package of 2024-25. The problem for both men is that they have already been paid for the goals they have scored: it is how many they might score from next season onwards that their clubs are in the business of calculating.”
He added: “One suspects both Wood and Salah will eventually sign two-year extensions at their current clubs. The respective negotiating experience of FSG and the Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is such that they have done enough deals to know they will likely have to pay a little more than they anticipated – while simultaneously convincing the other side they have won more concessions than they have.”
Forest in transfer battle for £34m-rated Brazilian
Botafogo attacker Luiz Henrique is said to be on Nottingham Forest’s radar amid an “opportunity not to be wasted” for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
Italian publication Firzenze Viola point out, the prospect of strengthening the squad in order to consolidate a top-four place is also a chance not to be missed. They report winger/striker Henrique is on Forest’s wanted list, although there is fierce competition for the versatile 24-year-old.
Yoane Wissa stance emerges
Nottingham Forest could have their work cut out if they try to lure Brentford’s Yoane Wissa to the City Ground this month.
The Reds are said to have their eye on the 28-year-old amid uncertainty over Taiwo Awoniyi’s future. The Telegraph have reported Forest would explore a move for Wissa, if Awoniyi departs amid interest from West Ham United.
However, according to talkSPORT, the Bees have “no intention” of letting go of Wissa before the February 3 deadline. Their stance comes as Arsenal are also said to be keen on the front man.
West Ham interest sparks Taiwo Awoniyi debate
Nuno Espirito Santo’s response was an unequivocal one when he was quizzed on the form of Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi.
“Yes, absolutely,” was the Portuguese’s reply when asked whether the Nigeria international is capable of getting back to his best. Whether that will be in a Forest shirt, though, is perhaps the more pertinent question.
Awoniyi is on West Ham United’s radar heading into the final fortnight of the January transfer window. The Reds would not even consider letting him go without securing additional firepower of their own first, but the speculation has nevertheless led to plenty of debate about the 27-year-old’s future.
