Nottingham Forest playmaker Joao Carvalho enjoyed a decent first season at the City Ground – when he was actually selected to play.
The Reds number 10 looked a quality piece of business from the outset. At £13.2 million (BBC Sport) he was expected to show quality, but in a league as demanding as the Championship, it was unsure just how quick he’d be up to scratch.
Some loose speculation had suggested that Carvalho could be on his way to Olympiacos during the summer.
Those rumours look to be coming to nothing, however, with some positive news coming from the Greek giants.
Greek station Sport24 Radio has suggested that Kostas Fortounis is set to sign a new deal with Olympiacos.
Carvalho had been touted as a direct replacement for the 26-year-old. If Fortounis signs a new deal, the links to the Portuguese star leaving the City Ground will seemingly extinguish.
The 22-year-old showed glimpses of being true quality last season. He scored four goals and registered eight assists in a campaign that saw him spend most of the second half of the season playing a peripheral part.
Seat Pitch Summary
Forest should see this as a transfer rumour that thankfully came to nothing.
If the owner had seriously contemplated selling the desperately impressive Carvalho just 12 months after signing him, the atmosphere could have quickly become toxic.
The magician is majestic at times and had Martin O’Neill trusted him to play a bit more frequently, Forest might have finished closer to the play-offs last season.
O’Neill arrived in January and subsequently dumped the youngster on the bench. He made just one start in the incumbent’s first 14 games in charge.
Carvalho started all of Forest’s last three games and helped the Reds secure nine points.
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His performance against Middlesbrough on Easter Monday was particularly impressive. He gave the Boro defence a torrid time and was the catalyst towards a 3-0 win for the Reds.
If Forest have ambitions of promotion next season, then keeping Carvalho is a must.
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