Nottingham Forest have seen another bid for Blackpool winger Josh Bowler rejected by the Tangerines, according to the Lancs Live.
The Reds have been following the youngster for a while, with many feeling that Forest had identified him as a possible replacement for Brennan Johnson.
Now, it seems as though the 20-year-old won’t be leaving Forest and it’s not clear whether Forest will go back for Bowler.
The Blackpool player proved a real handful earlier in the season when Neil Critchley’s men were defeated 2-1 at the City Ground.
Bowler, 22, only arrived at Blackpool in the summer having been released from Everton without making a first-team appearance.
During his time at Goodison Park, he was praised by David Unsworth. The under-23 manager called him ‘magic’ after a string of fine performances.
He typically operates on the left-wing, scoring twice and claiming three assists during 2021/22.
His energetic performances have caught the eye of Forest fans, with his hard work and determination not going unnoticed when Blackpool came to Trentside in October.
It does seem unlikely that Bowler will leave this month. Forest are unlikely to stretch to the sum that Blackpool want, which looks to be around £3 million.
Forest do have other irons in the fire but with Johnson looking set to stay at the City Ground, the need for Bowler might not be quite so urgent.
Talent: Bowler could be one for Forest to target in the summer
Blackpool do hold an option to extend Bowler’s contract. Given the interest from Forest, however, they could be interested in selling him during the summer transfer window.
At 22, the winger does seem an exciting talent. He certainly ticks the boxes for the type of player that Dane Murphy would target and Forest will likely retain their interest.
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In the here and now, perhaps the Reds can do without him. Johnson, Philip Zinckernagel and Keinan Davis have been playing in the attack of late and the results are good.
As a result, it might not be the worse thing in the world for Forest to wait until the summer to sign Bowler.