Nottingham Forest have been linked with a Europa League player in recent days but they might not be the only club keen to sign him.
Evangelos Marinakis wanted a new striker in the January window but couldn’t get one over the line amid inflated prices and PSR looming over a lot of clubs.
The summer could be different, however. Forest are chasing European football for the first time in many years and ultimately the Reds will have a sizeable sum to spend if that is on the table for next season.
Davide Frattesi has been linked with Forest as a statement signing, whilst a new striker will once again be in the sights of the club once things get underway during the off season.
It would appear that it won’t just be forward players being linked with Forest once the window reopens in the summer. The names are starting to be linked at a decent rate with clubs keen to get their business done early.
Crystal Palace offer contract to Bright Osayi-Samuel
Forest had agreed a pre-contract with Fenerbahce defender Osayi-Samuel ahead of the transfer window.
The Nigeria international has run down his contract with the Turkish giants and a new one hasn’t been forthcoming under Jose Mourinho.
However, reports are doing the rounds, with Africa Foot, claiming that it’s Palace who have made the first move to land Osayi-Samuel and have offered him a deal worth £70,000-a-week.
Mourinho has made Osayi-Samuel an integral part of his team this season. He’s made 29 appearances and claimed one assist for the team who are going well in 2024/25.
A 27-year-old full-back, Osayi-Samuel is preparing to face Rangers tonight in the Europa League and it appears as though Forest have now struck a deal.
The former QPR and Blackpool player has played 168 times for Fenerbahce in total, scoring seven times and claiming 14 assists.
Osayi-Samuel could be useful Forest addition
The beauty of signing a player like Osayi-Samuel is that he can play in a few positions and is also at the sort of age where he’s set to embark on his best years.
It’s perhaps a small concern that he’s been playing in Turkey for a number of years and that might see him need a little time to get up to the speed of the Premier League.
However, he’s a full international and if Forest could tie Ola Aina to a new contract as well, it would leave the club quite well stocked for full-backs on the right.
With Palace making the first move, Forest might have to act quickly on this one and it might not be long before we see just how serious the Reds are about signing Osayi-Samuel.
Receive a digest of our best Nottingham Forest content each week direct to your mailbox
