Nottingham Forest have scouted Sidney van Hooijdonk several times this season. The Reds tried to sign the striker in 2021 before he signed for Serie A outfit Bologna and he could be available in the summer.
Currently, the striker is on loan with Heerenveen and according to The Athletic, the Reds have been to watch him in action on several occasions.
Forest aren’t the only team keen though. It’s claimed that several clubs attended earlier this month when he bagged during a 4-2 defeat against Ajax.
Van Hooijdonk is the son of Pierre. The striker scored 36 goals in 69 appearances for the Reds in the nineties and famously went on strike during his time at the club.
His son is starting to prove himself a really talented player, however. Forest view him as a burgeoning talent who could thrive in English football.
Van Hooijdonk began his career with NEC Breda. There, he scored 23 times during 70 appearances and earned a move to Bologna.
His move to Italy hasn’t gone according to plan. He’s played just five games for them and was loaned back to Holland during the summer transfer window.
He clearly enjoys himself back in his homeland. He’s found the net 13 times during 2022/23 and is proving himself as a real menace of a goalscorer.
There is also some affection towards Forest from Van Hooijdonk. He had a ticket for the Championship Play-Off Final last season and was at Wembley to cheer on the Reds.
Forest want to sign Van Hooijdonk
This would be an intriguing signing. Naturally, the youngster will have comparisons to his father during his entire career.
The burgeoning talent is similar in stature and does possess a physical presence much like his dad did.
He will have to be judged on his own merit though and he certainly looks to have the nucleus of being a good striker.
Forest will almost certainly go in search of more goals during the summer transfer window.
They are among the lowest goalscorers in the Premier League this season and more firepower must be targeted in the summer.
Van Hooijdonk will be a signing that won’t cost the earth to Forest and as a result, he looks like he could be a very useful addition.
Furthermore, Van Hooijdonk would perhaps be an obtainable player even if the Reds are relegated to the Championship this season.