Nottingham Forest are among a number of clubs eyeing up a move for Britt Assombalonga. Rangers are also believed to be keen on the ex-Reds talisman.
The Athletic claim that Forest are in the picture to complete the re-signing of their former talisman. He left the City Ground for £15 million in 2017, signing for Middlesbrough.
With his contract due to expire, Neil Warnock has banished him from the first-team squad, with fellow striker Ashley Fletcher also training away from the team.
Assombalonga was handed the captain’s armband by the Boro boss earlier in the season. He’s only scored five goals though, with his last coming against Forest in January.
In total, he’s found the net 47 times in 161 appearances for the Riverside Stadium outfit.
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He is, however, reportedly earning £35,000-a-week at the club and as a result, an extension isn’t forthcoming.
TEAMtalk claimed recently that Assomablonga was close to agreeing on a move to Rangers, although that might not be overly accurate.
Playing Champions League football would surely appeal to the talisman and it will be interesting to see where he does end up.
Assombalonga spent three years at Forest after signing from Peterborough United in 2014.
He found the net 30 times in 69 appearances and would have scored plenty more had he not missed nearly a year through injury.
Would Assombalonga be welcome back?
The consensus among Forest supporters would most certainly be divided.
On one hand, the Reds would be getting themselves a proven Championship goalscorer on a free transfer.
The flip side, however, will see them sign a player who is likely to demand a decent-sized salary and one who hasn’t been overly consistent in recent times.
Warnock hasn’t been too impressed this season. After his goal against the Reds, the Boro boss claimed he saw that version of the striker more frequently.
That said, Forest will need a forward in the summer.
Lewis Grabban and Lyle Taylor are in their thirties and a new recruit will be necessary.
Assombalonga would offer Chris Hughton another tried and tested option and it’ll be interesting to see if he can be lured back to the City Ground.