Lewis Grabban has stunned Nottingham Forest by rejecting their offer of a new contract. The 34-year-old is now out of contract and will leave the Reds this summer, according to The Athletic.
Grabban signed for Forest back in 2018 from Bournemouth. He cost the club £6 million and he’s been the main focal point of the club’s strikeforce for four years.
He missed the end of last season through injury. It was a nice sight to see him alongside his teammates on the pitch after the win over Sheffield United and at Wembley.
Grabban was offered a new deal to stay at Forest as they prepare for the 2022/23 Premier League campaign. He’s now decided to decline the advances and will be on the lookout for a new club.
The report does claim that there is a chance for Grabban to reconsider. Given that he has chosen to reject the offer, however, it does seem unlikely that a u-turn will be made.
Grabban has been a fantastic servant to Forest. He’s captained the side over the last couple of years and has also entered the club’s 50-goal club for his efforts in front of goal.
In 147 appearances for the Reds, Grabban scored 55 goals. He also claimed 10 assists and some of his goals proved vitally important during the team’s promotion season.
Grabban to leave Forest and he will be remembered fondly
Looking back, Grabban will go down as Forest’s top scorer this century. His goal-haul hasn’t always forgiven him some stick in the eyes of his critics but that says more about them than the talisman.
The Reds will miss Grabban. Maybe his best days are behind him on the pitch but his influence on the dressing room has been a seriously undervalued trait.
He was the first man to rush over to Joe Worrall when promotion was secured. It was also Grabban who was out on the pitch ahead of the penalty shootout against Sheffield United; urging his teammates to relax and stay calm.
To some fans, this departure isn’t before time. Some of the criticism that has been thrown in the direction of Grabban during his time at the club has been nothing short of ridiculous.
Yes, he did miss some chances and yes he was sometimes frustrating. Ultimately, he scored lots of goals for Forest and his influence in the dressing room has been massive on the younger players.
The Reds must now prepare for life without their talismanic skipper.
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