Nottingham Forest transfer state of play as Yoane Wissa update emerges
Nottingham Forest securing a deadline day move for Brentford striker Yoane Wissa appears unlikely in the final hours of the winter window.
The Reds had a bid for the 28-year-old, said to be in the region of £18-22 million, rejected last month. Their Premier League rivals have always insisted Wissa would not be for sale, and it seems they are determined to maintain that stance right up until tonight’s 11pm deadline.
According to the BBC, the front man is set to stay with the Bees. It is said Forest had grown “increasingly pessimistic” over getting a deal sorted and the “trail has gone cold”.
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With Wissa having been a key target for the Reds, it could transpire that the window ends without any significant additions for Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad. The Athletic add, barring “something unexpected”, the dressing room may well remain largely unchanged.
If the window does close without any reinforcements at the City Ground, it is unlikely there would be any complaints from head coach Nuno. He has consistently stressed only “special” targets who could improve the squad and fit into the dressing room should be considered.
More than once, the Portuguese has made reference to this being a difficult window. Rather than spending for the sake of it, Forest have maintained their sensible and considered approach from the summer.
“While the window is open, it is open. Anything can happen,” Nuno said after his team’s emphatic 7-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday. “But I will reinforce what I have been saying, not only to you (the media) but also to the club, more than anything our priority was to keep the players.
“If it is something really special; if it is a piece - a player - that we really need and it is possible, fantastic, because we are not perfect and if somebody can help us, great. But that has to be somebody really special.”
Top scorer Chris Wood has been in sensational form in the Garibaldi and took his goal tally for the season to 17 with a hat-trick against the Seagulls. And Nuno stated a few weeks ago that he was confident fellow forward Taiwo Awoniyi can get back to his best and have a big role to play in the rest of the campaign.
