£18m Nottingham Forest player suddenly offered late escape route by Premier League club

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Nottingham Forest are going to be active it would seem in the days building up to the fun and frolics of transfer deadline day.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis wants new attackers. It’s the one area of the pitch where Nuno Espirito Santo would like reinforcements to bolster his squad.

Matheus Cunha has been linked with Forest. He’s stalling on a new deal with Wolves and as a result, it might open the door for some clubs to try and land him before the transfer deadline on Monday.

However, Cunha is valued at £70 million and that could see Forest left frustrated. Although the club has money to spend this month, it does feel as though the valuation of Cunha is way too high.

Forest might be raising some funds before the window closes to help boost any sales. Emmanuel Dennis has been linked with Rangers and other players might find themselves on the way out before the window closes.

• READ MORE: Yoane Wissa delivers coy response when quizzed on Forest

Everton want Nottingham Forest star Taiwo Awoniyi

According to Tuttosport, Everton are set to offload Beto before Monday’s deadline and that will see David Moyes go in search of a replacement – with Awoniyi on his list of alternative strikers.

Awoniyi was linked with West Ham earlier this month. Graham Potter desperately needs a new centre-forward and the Nigerian player is someone who he has been looking at.

The 27-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at Forest. Chris Wood praised Awoniyi for his efforts in training after his first goal of the season against Wolves, but the Kiwi has been keeping him out of the team.

That could lead to Awoniyi leaving the month either on loan or permanently. However, it does feel highly unlikely that the player will be allowed to leave before a replacement is sought, with Wood the only other striker in the squad.

Forest need better than Awoniyi

Without Awoniyi, the Reds might have been relegated after a single season back in the Premier League. He scored 11 goals in 2022/23 but a series of injuries hampered his progress and saw Wood overtake him in the pecking order.

This season, he’s struggled massively for game time. In fact, there is an argument that Espirito Santo has never really taken to Awoniyi with the uncompromising and unorthodox player, perhaps not his type of striker.

With Forest now chasing Europe, the squad requires a better option to backup Wood. Awoniyi has served the club with distinction but if a target can be signed and added to the ranks, perhaps there is no space for the £18m player on Trentside.

If Awoniyi does leave, he deserves the utmost respect. Okay, it’s not worked out in recent times but fans should be wise to remember exactly what he proved capable of during that maiden season back in the Premier League.