Former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper was a big fan of a youngster during his reign in charge at the City Ground, but now he’s been sold on a permanent transfer to League One.
Nottingham Forest have always had a strong track record of bringing young talent through from their academy.
Brennan Johnson, Matty Cash, Oliver Burke and Arvin Appiah have enjoyed productive spells at the City Ground over the last decade before being sold for a substantial combined total of around £87m.
Forest have really high hopes for Zach Abbott, who is the latest academy graduate making a name for himself on the banks of the River Trent.
However, not all of the once-considered bright prospects make it, and that’s now the case for a player who made his debut during Steve Cooper’s tenure.
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Nottingham Forest sell Dale Taylor to Blackpool
Cooper was a big fan of Dale Taylor and even gave him his senior debut against Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup when he was just 18-years-old.
Speaking to The Athletic in 2021, Cooper earmarked Taylor as one to watch out for.
“We are very aware of him and I have seen him play — and he will be with us at some stage. He will get that opportunity. But that will be down to the work he does with Reidy, Warren and the other coaching staff.
“He is still only 17. That is a really important age and he needs to be working on what they tell him to do. They are responsible for him and they will tell us when the time is right for him to be given an opportunity. That time will come, whether it is this season or next.”
However, now aged 21, Taylor hasn’t managed to stake a claim in the Forest first-team and has now been sold on a permanent transfer to League One outfit Blackpool.
Dale Taylor had a great season at Wigan Athletic last year
Taylor had a successful loan at Wigan Athletic last season and was actually awarded their Player of the Season.
The 2003-born centre-forward registered 18 goal involvements in the third tier, despite playing in a side that finished in 15th.
- 43 appearances
- 11 goals
- 7 assists
So, judging from that, Forest will surely have received a seven-figure fee, especially since there is so much room to get even better.
There were reportedly Championship clubs interested in signing him, so Steve Bruce has pulled off a real coup for Blackpool.
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