Anderlecht manager Brian Riemer has admitted being stunned by Nottingham Forest on transfer deadline day over Harry Toffolo. The Reds defender was all set to sign for the Belgian outfit before Forest pulled the plug at the eleventh hour.
Toffolo has fallen down the pecking order under Steve Cooper. Renan Lodi has been considered the number one at left-back and game time has been hard for the former Huddersfield man to come by.
The 27-year-old was in Belgium ahead of the transfer deadline. He was keen for the deal to get over the line, with Forest presuming that Omar Richards would be back soon.
Toffolo has made just 13 appearances for the Reds this season. He came on as the Reds were battered 4-0 by West Ham at the London Stadium yesterday and Cooper clearly still rates him.
The Anderlecht boss has now lifted the lid on the failed transfer. He’s admitted to being left stunned by Forest and has taken aim at the Premier League club for their part in the deal failing.
He said: At 11pm there was still an agreement, but due to, in my opinion, extremely unprofessional behaviour from Nottingham, Harry Toffolo was recalled. I was surprised it didn’t go through. In football, sometimes a deal is apparently not enough.”
Anderlecht manager Riemer stunned by Forest
This deal doesn’t cover Forest in glory. Ultimately, however, the club needed to keep hold of Toffolo with the injury to Richards proving worse than first anticipated.
Forest are actually using Toffolo now too. It’s not as though he’s not even featuring from the bench and perhaps the Anderlecht boss would be wise to wind it in a bit.
The Reds have long memories when it comes to Anderlecht. During the 1980s Forest were on the wrong end of a bribery saga involving the Belgian club and match officials.
As a result, Riemer would be wise to remember that before he starts going fleeting to FIFA over the conduct of Forest.
For Toffolo, he simply craves more game time between now and the end of the season. With Lodi currently ahead of him, however, he might have to remain patient for now.