Nottingham Forest were linked with a move for Dutch forward Jizz Hornkamp during the summer but they’ve been justified in their decision not to sign him.
The Reds were linked with close to 100 players during a hectic summer. Forest added 23 new players during that transfer window and more followed in January.
Hornkamp is viewed as a player who could have a bright future and during 2021/22, he bagged nine goals for Willem II.
This season has been something of a struggle though. He’s spent most of his playing time as a striker but has managed just three goals.
The player has also made three assists but playing in the second tier of Dutch football, it was anticipated he’d do more.
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Forest would have signed him with one eye on the future for sure. But, players like Brennan Johnson and Morgan Gibbs-White are younger and are already doing more at a higher level.
Two of Hornkamp’s last two goals have come in the last three games and before that, he was on a run of one goal in 18 appearances.
Forest added a few strikers in the summer. Taiwo Awoniyi was the main talisman, with Emmanuel Dennis also being added to the ranks.
Gibbs-White came in and he’s played as a false nine during the 2022/23 campaign on certain occasions too.
Forest justified not to sign Hornkamp
It’s not been a particularly good season for Hornkamp and he must be thinking that he’s missed out on a big move now.
From a Forest perspective, however, they must be delighted that they choose not to sign the player given his stuttering form.
Hornkamp needed to really kick on this season and he’s not done that, scoring just three goals and claiming three assists.
The youngster wouldn’t have been a particularly expensive signing but that isn’t really the point here.
He looks a long way from the required standard in the Premier League and Forest have been more than justified in their summer decision not to recruit him.