Nottingham Forest are bidding to sign a number of new players this summer – with quality over quantity the order of the day.
Nuno Espirito Santo has suggested that the club are trying to do some business in the transfer market ahead of the new season.
With Euro 2024 now out of the way, fans can look towards domestic football returning in a little over a month.
Forest open up the season at home to Bournemouth before a trip to newly promoted Southampton the following week.
Now, details of a player that Forest have been linked with have emerged, with Saud Abdulhamid very much on the radar at the City Ground.
Why Forest are taking a step back over Saud Abdulhamid
The report comes from Team Talk who have claimed that Forest have taken a bit of a back seat when it comes to the Saudi Arabia international.
This is because the deal isn’t an easy one to complete, with Al-Hilal viewing him as the best right-back currently playing in Asian football.
The club have no intention of letting him go easily and are actually keen to keep him at all costs for now.
Aston Villa are also in the mix to sign the player and ultimately there is going to be more negotiations to be had here.
Abdulhamid only has a contract until 2025 with his current club and in 12 months time there will be a chance to sign him for free.
Forest have now chosen to slow things down somewhat, although there is still an interest in the defender.
The man with 28 caps for Saudi Arabia has been called ‘extraordinary’ by Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus and he’s rated very highly.
Forest aren’t desperate for a new right-back
This has to be another factor in the decision made by Forest to take a step away from landing Abdulhamid.
Neco Williams and Ola Aina can both operate at right-back and naturally, there are other areas of the squad in more need of reinforcing.
Still, Abdulhamid might prove to be a useful signing, with Aina featuring as a left-back more often than not during 2023/24.
He is only 24-years-old and quite clearly he can play given that Villa are monitoring his situation too.
Forest will likely go in search of three or four quality additions before the summer window ends and perhaps Abdulhamid will be one name that remains on the radar.
Signing him doesn’t feel particularly easy and with that in mind, the club are probably wise to not waste too much effort on this one.
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