Nottingham Forest ‘deal on’ as top transfer target is now ‘open’ to City Ground move

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Nuno Espírito Santo knows better than anybody that Nottingham Forest requires extra depth, with one potential deal looking like it will progress.

Even after Forest signed Dan Ndoye, there was no time to celebrate for the recruitment team, as Espírito Santo had made it pretty clear that the Reds remain short in a number of areas.

Nuno wanted five more signings after Ndoye and the club have managed to secure one so far, bringing in Angus Gunn as a backup goalkeeper in what looks to be a no-brainer all around.

However, central midfield remains a priority for the Forest manager and with Douglas Luiz’s move from Juventus stalling, the Reds are progressing with an alternative who has already said yes to the transfer.

Nottingham Forest open talks to sign Mads Bidstrup

Reports have suggested that Forest have been pursuing a deal for Yunus Musah but with Napoli also in the race, the USA international will have the very same choice to make as Ndoye did.

Forest are clearly preparing for all outcomes in their search for a midfielder, though, as Florian Plettenberg has now reported that the club are in discussions over a deal for Danish star Mads Bidstrup.

The Sky reporter has said: “Initial talks have taken place between Forest and RB Salzburg, as well as between Forest and the player’s [Bidstrup] camp.

“Bidstrup is open to the move, but RB Salzburg have made it clear that he is considered one of their key players and they are not willing to let him go for less than his value.”

It remains to be seen what that valuation actually is, but according to Transfermarkt, Bidstrup is currently worth around £8.5m, so the signing wouldn’t be extortionate.

Starring for Salzburg out in Austria, the Dane has already experienced Premier League life at Brentford between 2020 and 2022, where he earned remarkable praise from then Bees boss Thomas Frank.

Mads Bidstrup was once compared to a Premier League legend

Averaging 12 ball recoveries per 90 so far for Salzburg, it’s evident to see that Bidstrup would provide tremendous energy to the Forest midfield.

This energy has been a staple of his playing style even when at Brentford, leading to Frank comparing him to one of the Premier League’s great midfielders of the modern era.

Speaking to Brentford’s website in 2022, he said: “One of Mads Bidstrup’s strengths is that he has such a big engine. He reminds me a bit of N’Golo Kanté at Chelsea and that’s a big, big claim of course.

“His ability to press and cover so many yards across the pitch is fantastic and that acceleration when he just goes past people, I think that’s so good in the pressure.”

Bidstrup’s energy and pressing could allow his supporting cast to thrive at Forest, so it remains to be seen whether Evangelos Marinakis can prise the midfielder away from Salzburg.