Nottingham Forest will make a £10 million bid for Ukraine striker Artym Dovbyk, according to The Star on Sunday (Print Edition; page 43).
The striker currently plays for SK Dnipro-1 and he looks set to leave the Ukrainian top-flight outfit this summer.
Dovbyk’s most recent act for his country was to send Scotland out of the World Cup play-offs at the semi-final stage.
He scored his country’s third goal in a 3-1 win; although he couldn’t help the nation against Wales yesterday as they went down 1-0 in the play-off final.
Dovbyk joined Dnipro from FC Midtjylland in August 2020. He’s been given a confidence boost in his homeland, scoring 24 goals and claiming six assists from 45 appearances.
During 2021/22 he found the net no fewer than 14 times, finishing as the club’s top goalscorer in all competitions.
Now, Forest look set to test the water with a bid of £10 million as they look to strengthen ahead of their maiden campaign back in the Premier League.
Boss Steve Cooper was expected to get one of his trusted lieutenants to watch Dovbyk during yesterday’s clash against Wales.
Nottingham Forest keen on Dovbyk and the jury is perhaps out
It’s difficult to know what to believe at this time of the year. Forest have been linked with loads of players since their Wembley win and it’s proving hard to keep up.
Dovbyk is at a nice age and given their Premier League riches, £10 million is a sum that would hardly break the bank this summer.
The striker is also an uncompromising figure and would certainly represent a different option to the Reds’ attack.
Forest could find themselves short in their attack and at least one striker will be sought by Cooper.
Lewis Grabban could be released, leaving Sam Surridge as the only option from the strikers who played for Forest during 2021/22.
Rumour rating: 5/10 – this does seem a little bit random, in fairness. Dovbyk is clearly a player that could have a bright future but he’s only scored goals in the Ukraine. We could be wrong but this smacks of a signing that might have been made three years ago, rather than one that Dane Murphy or Cooper might make now.