Nottingham Forest have placed Jean Butez on their transfer shortlist as they look to bolster their goalkeeping department. The Reds are after a couple of goalkeepers this summer and the Frenchman is now fancied by Forest.
Butez currently plays for Royal Antwerp. According to Get Belgian and Dutch Football News, Burnley are also keen on landing the 28-year-old before the season starts.
One of the goalkeeping spots at Forest is likely to be filled by Dean Henderson. It’s been claimed this morning that the Reds are edging closer to the permanent signing of the Manchester United man.
Now, the Reds are eyeing another stopper this summer, with Butez the latest to be linked. The player has been with Royal Antwerp since 2020 when he signed from Mouscron.
For his current club, he’s made 129 appearances and kept 49 clean sheets in total. Last season, he was the club’s first-choice stopper as they finished in a very decent third place and won the Croky Cup.
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Antwerp chief executive Sven Jacques was pleased with the goalkeeper last season. He told the Belgian Press: “Jean has his best season ever. At the age of 28, he has reached a good age to make a transfer and he’s already indicated that he wants to take the next step.”
Forest now want Butez
This is another player that would arrive as a bit of an unknown quantity but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. At 28, he’s relatively young for a goalkeeper and perhaps he’d be an ideal backup for Henderson.
Butez has also played in France with Lille. He will want to return to a European league that’s an upgrade on the Belgian league and the Premier League is surely something he’d jump at.
Butez does have three years to run on his existing deal. Still, it’s unlikely that Antwerp will be demanding big money, given that their chief executive already seems resigned to losing him.
Rumour rating: 7/10 – There is quite a bit to like about this potential deal. The Frenchman looks like a decent goalkeeper and he’ll be keen to test himself in a different country.
Forest might tick some of the boxes for Butez this summer. However, he should be aware that first-team football will be hard to come by should Henderson sign as expected.