Nottingham Forest transfer news latest as Liverpool star linked and Evangelos Marinakis sent a warning
A crucial January transfer window is fast approaching for Nottingham Forest as they strive to make progress in the Premier League this season.
Thanks to some excellent business done in the summer, the Reds do not need to do too much work in the new year. However, it is likely there will still be some ins and outs at the City Ground.
The rumour mill is already in full swing. Below, we round-up the latest Forest transfer news.
Liverpool star linked
Chris Sutton believes Caoimhín Kelleher will seek to leave Liverpool if his recent good form is not rewarded with a longer run in Arne Slot’s team.
The 26-year-old has been at Anfield since 2019, but for most of that has been stuck behind the outstanding Alisson Becker – until the door cracked open a few weeks ago.
With the Brazilian injured Kelleher has come in and done well in the last seven games, so much so that some are even wondering whether he should retain his place now that the long-term No. 1 is nearing a return to fitness.
Speaking about the situation on the Monday Night Club, Nottingham Forest fan Sutton suggested the Ireland international, who has been linked with a move to the City Ground in the last transfer window, will look to move on.
“I wonder with Kelleher longer term, I think he's established himself well enough now he won't want to hang around next season anyway,” the former Blackburn and Celtic striker said.
“He's certainly proved himself as probably one of the best backup keepers, if not the best backup keeper I think I've ever seen in the Premier League and he won't want to hang around at Liverpool next season, I suspect.”
Pundit Rob Green, who played for West Ham and England, agreed and suggested the imminent arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili in the summer could be the signal for him to leave the Reds.
“Yeah, he's done enough,” Green said. “I think [Giorgi] Mamardashvili, signing him for £25 million or whatever it was kind of the final nail in the coffin for him.
“If this is his [Alisson’s] long goodbye before going off to Saudi or somewhere like that, then it seems a really bitter pill to swallow to say ‘Well, we've already made a decision and you've got to hang around until he comes along’ is adding insult to injury and it just goes to show how well he's done.
“But this is his window and I think that's too much for me. You sit there and go ‘I've proved myself at every opportunity and still this is how I get treated. Thanks but no, thanks.’”
As things stand Matz Sels is Forest’s first choice and by and large he has done well since joining from Strasbourg, although there has been the odd shaky moment. He is backed up by Carlos Miguel who joined from Corinthians in the summer.
Yuri Alberto linked
Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto has discussed his future amid transfer links to Forest.
The Reds are said to be targeting the 23-year-old Brazilian ahead of the January transfer window. And speaking ahead of Corinthians’ final league match of the season last Sunday, in which he scored in a 3-0 win against Gremio, Alberto addressed his situation.
“I really want to (stay at Corinthians). But I also have a dream of playing in Europe, in the Premier League,” he said. “I’m very happy here.
“Even more so because I’ve found my best form. I was even joking with the guys at the training centre before the game against Bahia. I said ‘Man, this is the last training camp here at home, at the hotel’.
“It’s very rare for this to happen, and it’s the first time that I don’t want the year to end! I don’t want it to end because, at the moment, I’m living, I’m very happy.
“On the field, things are happening with enormous naturalness. I (feel) light, doing my things with great ease. I’m enjoying each day as if it were my last.”
Alberto scored 15 league goals for Corinthians this season, taking his tally to an impressive 40 goals in 102 league appearances for the club.
Injury to loanee
Cheltenham Town loan forward from Forest Manni Norkett is expected to be sidelined until January with an ankle injury.
The 20-year-old has made two League Two starts for the Robins, along with three outings from the bench, scoring the equaliser in the 2-1 home victory over Accrington Stanley on October 1.
He started all three EFL Trophy group stage matches, helping Michael Flynn's side progress with a 100 per cent record, and made one substitute appearance in the FA Cup at Salford City.
Norkett, who is from Nottingham, was on the books of Manchester United from 2018 to 2023, experiencing senior football during a loan spell at non-league Gainsborough Trinity.
He rejoined Forest, where he had previously been a youth player, in the summer of 2023 and has been given his first taste of EFL football at Cheltenham.
The loan arrangement was due to run until until January, so it appears unlikely that Norkett will make any further appearances for the Robins, who currently have six loanees with only five permitted in a matchday squad.
Price tag emerges
Earlier this week the Reds were linked with Anderlecht defender Moussa N’Diaye. The left-back was said to be a “priority” target for Forest and there was talk of a five-year contract being in the offing.
Now a potential price tag has emerged for the 22-year-old. According to Gazet van Antwerpen (via Sport Witness), N’Diaye would cost in the region of €10 million (£8.2m).
Prising him away from Anderlecht might not necessarily be easy, however. He is said to be “happy” in Belgium and “doesn’t have a career plan” as things stand.
It had previously been claimed Anderlecht would “have to be persuaded” to let the full-back go. N’Diaye is under contract until 2027.
Midfielder competition
The City Ground is being touted as a potential destination for Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli as January approaches. But it seems the Reds would have some stiff competition for the 23-year-old’s signature.
According to Tuttosport, Fagioli’s profile fits what Forest and Crystal Palace are after. It is said both clubs are “thinking of” bolstering their midfield options and want a player who is “good at dribbling”.
Fagioli and his agents are said to have started to listen to offers from other clubs as he has fallen down the pecking order at Juventus. It is said the Italian giants are not willing to consider a loan and have placed a €25m (£20m) price tag on the player’s head.
West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur are also credited with an interest in the Italy international. Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi is also said to be an admirer but the French side’s financial troubles mean a move there is seen as unlikely.
McKenna move
Promotion hero Scott McKenna has been discussing how his surprise summer switch to Las Palmas came about. The defender was released by Forest at the end of last season when his contract expired and ended up making the move to Spain.
Former Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie had signed for the LaLiga outfit shortly before. And McKenna says the forward helped convince him to head to the Canary Islands.
"He (McBurnie) spoke about how good the people were and the club were and that helped make my decision," McKenna told talkSPORT. He added: "In the summer, I had a few options.
"Time was going on and teams were back in pre-season. I felt like I had to make a decision and this was one that really excited me. A chance to play in a top league and against Barcelona and Real Madrid, these sorts of games are ones you can't really refuse the opportunity to try and be part of."
McKenna has made 11 league appearances for Las Palmas so far. He left the City Ground after a four-year stint and having played a key role in securing promotion to the Premier League.
Interest reignited?
Feyenoord forward Santiago Gimenez was among the striker’s on Forest’s radar in the summer as they tried to strengthen their attacking ranks. However, he rejected an approach from the Reds and has said he had a “lot of doubts” over a move Trentside.
The 23-year-old has recently returned from a significant spell on the sidelines with a thigh injury. And that means speculation about his future has started up again.
MX Futbol suggest the City Ground could be a possible destination for Gimenez in 2025, along with Spurs and AC Milan. Having missed out on signing a forward in the summer, it remains an area Forest could do with adding to come January. But given Gimenez’s previous comments, it would be a surprise if the Reds reignite this particular link.
Transfer warning issued
Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Carlton Palmer has issued a warning over a potential signing in January.
According to Alan Nixon, Forest have been keeping their eye on Wigan Athletic talisman Thelo Aasgaard, with £3 million being the price sounded out for the 22-year-old.
The versatile midfielder has been a standout name for the Latics in their bid to survive in League One this season, scoring five goals in the league so far.
With Forest flying high in the Premier League at the moment under Nuno Espírito Santo and the fee looking cheap for a top tier side, there are some issues that former England international Palmer has indicated.
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Speaking to Football League World, Palmer said: "The stumbling block for Forest, even though it could be a shrewd investment, is that noises are coming out that it will be a £3 million fee.
"That would still be a very shrewd purchase for anybody. I think that is around and about the fair fee, but I think Aasgaard would be worried about his game time."
Although the most reputable team reportedly in the hunt for Aasgaard's signature, Forest could face difficulties in their pursuit of the Norwegian for precisely those reasons.
Other teams reportedly interested include Championship sides Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers, the latter having a bid rejected in the summer. Despite having less financial power than Forest, teams of Stoke and Blackburn's level would be much more likely to be able to offer consistent game time to the Norway Under-21 international, something that is valuable to a player still young in years.
Aasgaard is proving he has too much quality for League One, recording his best season to date last campaign with nine goals and four assists leading to other Premier League and European clubs becoming interested in his services according to Palmer.
The 59-year-old pundit, who played 16 times for Forest, went on to offer a solution to the problem of first team minutes: "A deal could be done, then loan him back to Wigan. A £3 million fee would be massive for Shaun Maloney's side.
"It would be good business for Nottingham Forest and a problem for them to have as well, because they wouldn't be able to guarantee him game time."
A loan move back to Wigan could be a win for all parties with Forest securing their man and getting him minutes, Aasgaard happy with his game time, and Wigan still getting the fruits of their star man during a relegation battle.
There is no doubt over the Norwegian's importance to Shaun Maloney's side, but Forest could offer a deal too good to turn down this January transfer window.
