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One of Everton’s busiest transfer windows in recent seasons came in the summer of 2022, when Frank Lampard was manager. The Toffees signed six players on permanent deals, and two players on loan, as they looked to boost Premier League survival hopes for the 2022/23 campaign.

The headline signing from that season was Amadou Onana, who joined from Lille for £33m, although he has since left for fellow Premier League side Aston Villa. The Toffees signed four first-teamers who are still at the club today; Dwight McNeil, James Garner and Idrissa Gueye cost them a combined £26m, and James Tarkowski joined on a free.

Their sixth and final permanent deal that summer was a player who has also now departed the club. That man is striker Neal Maupay.

Maupay’s Everton record

It is fair to say that Maupay’s move to Goodison Park did not work out for any party involved. The Toffees signed him from Brighton and Hove Albion for £15m in 2022, and he never really found his best form in front of goal.

Life as an Everton player started superbly for the striker, who scored in just his second game for the club, a strike at Goodison Park against West Ham United.

However, the Frenchman failed to find the back of the net again and ended his time at Everton with one goal in 31 appearances.

Last term, the former Brighton striker left on loan to return to his former club Brentford. The 28-year-old had a far more successful time of things for the Bees than he did as an Everton player. His second spell in West London saw him score eight goals and grab three assists in 31 appearances for Thomas Frank’s side.

Following the expiration of his loan at Brentford last July, the striker departed Everton permanently. He made the move back to France, signing for Olympique Marseille, where former Seagulls boss Roberto de Zerbi is now manager. The French outfit signed him on loan with an obligation to buy him in 2025.

Things did not go according to plan for Maupay at Goodison Park. Then manager Lampard was very close to bringing in a different striker, who is now one of the deadliest players in the Premier League.

Who Everton nearly signed instead of Maupay

The player in question here is Aston Villa and England international Ollie Watkins. The striker has been a revelation under Unai Emery over the past 18 months and scored the Three Lions’ winner in the Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands.

According to an exclusive report from Football Insider back in 2022, the Toffees ‘registered their interest in signing’ Watkins during the final days of the summer transfer window. Incredible though it may seem, the report does state Villa were ‘open to letting Watkins go’, as they searched for a quality centre-forward.

Well, as it turned out, Watkins proved to be that very player for the Villans. He has now played 177 times in that famous claret and blue shirt, scoring 74 times and grabbing 29 assists. That included a superb 2023/24 campaign, in which his 32 goals and assists in 37 Premier League games helped the club qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1983.

Watkins, who was described as “elite” by football statistician Statman Dave, has quickly become one of the most valuable players in the Premier League. According to a report from The Mirror in July, he is valued at an eye-watering £85.7m, far more than what the Toffees could have expected to pay back in 2022.

Everton fans can only dream about how things might have turned out for them had they managed to sign the Villa striker instead of Maupay.

Perhaps Lampard, who was sacked in January 2023, would have kept his job, with the Toffees were reaching the pinnacle of European football thanks to Watkins.

Everton wanted to sign "special" £30m star but are stuck with Lindstrom

Sean Dyche could have signed a talented Championship sensation this summer…

By
Ross Kilvington

Oct 1, 2024

One bad afternoon aside, Liverpool have been brilliant under Arne Slot this season. The Dutchman inherited a top-class squad from Jurgen Klopp, who had run out of energy after crafting an illustrious dynasty, but the Reds certainly weren’t infallible.

Liverpool were pulled from the title race last season by a wretched run of Premier League form throughout April, with eventual champions in the Europa League, Atalanta, and FA Cup, Manchester United, defeating the Anfield side en route to gold.

Klopp did end his tenure with a vicarious campaign in the Carabao Cup, but there is plenty for this Liverpool side still to give under new leadership, with some players excitingly going from strength to strength.

Let’s take a look at two of the best.

Luis Diaz & Ibrahima Konate for Liverpool in 2023/24

Luis Diaz has been a revelation this season. Across five Premier League matches, the Colombian winger has scored five fine goals and claimed one assist.

He started fast last term but after bagging in both of Liverpool’s opening fixtures scored just one goal and assist apiece over the subsequent 18 matches.

His underlying numbers from last year are not too dissimilar to those of the opening weeks, but there’s little question that he is proving to be far more effective and deadly with his attacking involvements.

He’s not the only one enjoying an exciting resurgence. Ibrahima Konate has been immense in Liverpool’s backline this season, scoring at the San Siro in the Champions League last week and blending technique with titanic defensive resolve in the English top flight.

As per Sofascore, the France international has won 77% of his duels in the league across his five appearances, also completing 91% of his passes and placing a gorgeous assist for Diaz’s opening goal against Bournemouth last weekend.

​He’s been a beast of a defender since signing for the Merseysiders from RB Leipzig when his £36m release clause was met in 2021. Still only ​25 years old, Konate has completed 96 matches for the outfit but ebbed and flowed from form last term.

Indeed, he fell by the wayside as Liverpool’s carriage also toppled under Klopp in 2024, with The Athletic’s James Pearce commenting on his “dreadful” displays. He was one of the chief culprits as Crystal Palace defeated Liverpool at Anfield in April, which is what Pearce was commenting on.

Pundit Jamie Carragher hurled criticism at the talent toward the backend of last season too, saying: “Konate’s been so poor of late, really poor. Liverpool need to buy a centre-back in the summer.”

Liverpool, as we all know, didn’t buy a new centre-half in the summer but Konate is proving – so far – that he has what it takes to partner Virgil van Dijk with steel and authority throughout the duration of the campaign.

He’s had mixed luck on the injury front at Liverpool but Konate has been Hercules-esque across these opening couple of months and is an indispensable member of the starting line-up right now.

Both players are enjoying fine a resurgence and will be eager to pen lucrative new deals to reflect their importance at the heart of Slot’s project. After all, Kostas Tsimikas, for example, takes home a heftier pay packet.

Why Liverpool should get rid of Kostas Tsimikas

Liverpool signed Tsimikas from Greek side Olympiakos for a shrewd fee of about £12m in 2020, meaning that the left-back was recruited for the recently-crowned Premier League champions in an attempt to bolster the high-flying existing options.

He’s never quite established himself, though has played an important role throughout the later phase of Klopp’s tenure. Indeed, the 28-year-old has played 90 times for Liverpool and has assisted 17 goals, which stands at an average rate of 0.19 per match.

For reference, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s career assist rate for Liverpool is 0.26 per game, so Tsimikas knows a thing or two about playmaking, have no doubt.

As per FBref, he actually ranks among the top 2% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for passes attempted and the top 9% for progressive passes per 90.

But it’s not all about assisting the forwards. He’s solid but unspectacular, and given that Andy Robertson is now 30 years old and Liverpool have been linked with a new left-back for some time, it would be much more wise to sell the Greece native and allow Robertson to compete with whoever is – possibly – brought in to strengthen Slot’s unit.

Tsimikas signed a new contract with Liverpool one year ago today that extends his service on Merseyside to 2027. It means that the second-choice left-back is now earning £75k per week, documented as more than the earnings of both Diaz and Konate.

Indeed, Konate, who has entered the penultimate year of his one and only signed deal with Liverpool, earns £70k per week, with the £55k-per-week Diaz also yet to extend the deal that saw him move from Porto in January 2022.

This is not a… concern for the Reds, but Liverpool need to rise to another level if they wish to keep pace with Manchester City and Arsenal at the summit of English football. Tsimikas is not unexpendable, with transfer insider Dean Jones revealing last October that Liverpool were assessing their options despite recently tying him down to new terms.

Described “woeful” by reporter James Dodd last season, perhaps it’s time for something new. With prominent stars like the aforementioned still earning less than Tsimikas, something needs to change.

Better than Trent: Liverpool wanted to sign superstar who's now worth £235m

He may well be Jurgen Klopp’s big regret…

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By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 24, 2024

Mikel Arteta says he has been left "absolutely fuming" by the decision to send Myles Lewis-Skelly off during Arsenal's win over Wolves.

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• Lewis-Skelly red-carded
• Arsenal won with 10 men
• Arteta nevertheless frustrated

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lewis-Skelly was sent off in rather harsh circumstances during Arsenal's clash with Wolves. The Molineux side attempted to break from a corner and Lewis-Skelly fouled Matt Doherty. While the expectation would perhaps have been a yellow card, Michael Oliver instead brandished a red.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lewis-Skelly headed down the tunnel and Arteta introduced Riccardo Calafiori in place of Ethan Nwaneri. The Italian went on to score the winner, while Wolves were also reduced to 10 men in the second half as Joao Gomes was dismissed. Nevertheless, the Gunners boss was furious with the decision to dismiss the 18-year-old.

• WHAT ARTETA SAID

  Arteta told : "It is that clear that I leave it to you guys. I am absolutely fuming but I leave it with you. Because it is that obvious. I don't think my words are going to help."

  Asked if the Gunners would launch an appeal, he said:  "That's for the club to decide what the best decision is. I think it's that obvious, maybe we don't even need to."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Arsenal return to action in midweek against Girona in the Champions League. They then face Manchester City in a huge Premier League encounter.

GOAL grades every USMNT player who moved during the winter transfer window and, just as important, those who stayed

And … exhale. The transfer window is closed. The bulk of the business is concluded, and there was no shortage of transfer speculation, and some important consummation, involving current and future U.S. men's national team stars. For most USMNT players, the January window was just as much about the transfers that didn't happen as the ones that did.

For the majority of the month, discussion centered around the likes of Ricardo Pepi, Antonee Robinson and Gio Reyna. Ultimately, none were on the move. Pepi got a new deal to stay at PSV despite massive offers. Robinson continues to, and will continue to, light up the Premier League with Fulham, as he pursues assist records. Reyna, meanwhile, is nowhere near as comfortable as those two, as he now faces another fight – and, surprise, surprise – another new coach at Borussia Dortmund.

Still, there were some key transfers. Several MLS youngsters made big moves, whether to Europe or across MLS, while some USMNT rising stars relocated overseas. The pressure of the 2026 World Cup is clearly starting to hit players' shoulders and, with that in mind, every transfer decision is vital. The right move could make all the difference. The wrong one can, too.

What should we make of some of the big swings USMNT stars took this winter? What about the players who made leaps within MLS or to Europe? And what about those who stayed, opting to turn down opportunities to leave their current clubs to fight for a place?

GOAL answers those questions, grades every USMNT player who moved this winter and – just as important – those didn't.

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  Antonee Robinson: Fulham

  There were rumblings early in the month but, by mid-January, it became pretty clear that Fulham did not want to sell. They had good reason, too. At the moment, Fulham sits ninth in the Premier League with very real hopes of pushing for a European spot. The player most important to those hopes? Robinson.

  He has 11 assists, trailing only Mohammed Salah in the Premier League in that category. No amount of money could have made up for losing Robinson, who is arguably the Premier League's best at the position, halfway through the season. Maybe that changes in the summer. Big clubs will no doubt want to sign Robinson, who plays a position of need for several of the Premier League's best.

  Maybe Fulham can be convinced to cash out in the summer. Perhaps Robinson will be open to a new challenge but, also, maybe not. There's something to be said for comfort and, with the 2026 World Cup looming, Robinson is already playing an elite level where he is.

  Either way, this discussion will get revisited in the summer, and you can't blame anyone involved for pushing it forward a window, given how well this season is going.

  GRADE: A-

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  Luca de la Torre: San Diego FC

  On a personal level, this has to feel like a dream come true for the midfielder – and you have to take that into account here.

  De la Torre was born and raised in San Diego, and he'll now return home to be a key player for his hometown team's first season in MLS. That has be cool, a feeling that can't be replicated anywhere else other than MLS. Was it worth trading a European career for? Some would certainly say yes. There's no place like home, as they say.

  As for the USMNT picture, that's trickier. The midfield is more crowded than ever with performing well all over the world. De la Torre hasn't played nearly enough over the last year or so, this move to MLS may get him back on the field. Either way, national team or no national team, this has to feel good for De la Torre on a human level, and that's important.

  GRADE: A-

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  James Sands: St. Pauli

  We already have some significant data on this one, since Sands moved so early, and that data is positive. Sands has immediately become a key player for the Bundesliga side. He's already featured five times with three starts, with St. Pauli going unbeaten in those three starts. You can't begin your tenure with a new team much better than that, can you?

  St. Pauli has Sands playing in midfield, but he could also play centerback in their back three if the need arises. Because of that, this feels like a perfect fit. This is just a loan, and St. Pauli still aren't totally clear of the relegation zone. Still, after not quite making it at Rangers during his first stay in Europe, Sands is already showing that he's a new player who can play at a higher level than before.

  GRADE: A –

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  Taylor Booth: FC Twente

  In some ways, this is a lateral move from one decent Eredivisie team to another. It is also exactly the type of move Booth needs right now. Just two years ago, the American winger was being linked with Manchester United but this season, in particular, hasn't gone to plan. He hasn't been used enough by Utrecht, featuring just nine times for 254 minutes.

  At 23, these are key years and Booth has to play games. He's seemingly found a club that will let him do that without really taking a step down. Utrecht sit third in the Eredivisie. Twente sit sixth, seven points behind with a game in hand. Realistically, these two teams are in the same tier.

  By joining Twente, Booth will now get a chance to play more in a league he knows well and has proven himself in. Because of that, this all makes sense.

  GRADE: A-

Amad Diallo says he is having one of the "best weeks" of his life after scoring his first Manchester United hat-trick and signing a new contract.

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• Amad signs new Man Utd deal
• Scores hat-trick vs Southampton
• "One of the best weeks of my life"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Ivory Coast international scored three late goals to secure United a 3-1 comeback win over Southampton at Old Trafford on Thursday night. This comes seven days on from the 22-year-old signing a new long-term deal with the Red Devils, which capped off a brilliant week for the youngster.

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  WHAT AMAD DIALLO SAID

  He told TNT Sports: "In football you have to believe. We believed until the end and are very happy to win this game. We drew with Arsenal and Liverpool so the confidence was there. We are very happy.

  On where this week ranks after scoring his first senior hat-trick and signing a new contract, he added: "Maybe one of the best weeks in my life. I am very happy for this win. This team deserved to win this game so I am very happy."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Amad is becoming a vital player at United under new head coach Ruben Amorim. The Ivorian has now scored five goals and bagged as many assists in his last 11 Premier League matches. There have not been many positives for United this season but Amad is arguably the main one.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Amad will hope to continue his goalscoring form when United host Brighton in their next Premier League encounter on Sunday.

Nottingham Forest are interested in signing a forward who Virgil van Dijk says "has everything", seeing him as an alternative to Santiago Gimenez.

Nottingham Forest miss out on Gimenez

The Reds have suffered a setback with one high-profile transfer target, with a move for Feyenoord striker Gimenez possibly not materialising after plenty of interest emerged in him from the Premier League side.

The Mexican looked like a hugely exciting option for Forest, considering what a key performer he was for his current club last season, scoring 23 goals in just 29 starts in the Eredivisie, as well as netting twice in four appearances in the Champions League.

With Gimenez potentially no longer a target for Nuno Espirito Santo's side between now and the end of the summer transfer window this week, having rejected a switch to the City Ground, they could do with finding an alternative target.

It looks as though they may have found that player, with a new report suggesting as much, as Forest look to give themselves the best possible chance of enjoying a solid Premier League campaign.

Nottingham Forest eyeing attacker who "has everything"

According to Football Insider, Nottingham Forest are now "ready to turn their attention" to signing Ajax striker Brian Brobbey this summer, looking to acquire his signature before the window closes on Friday.

The Reds have "set their sights" on the Feyenoord ace, seeing him as an ideal option in place of Gimenez, but with his contract not expiring until 2027, the report does state that "it would take a big fee to try and prise him away from Amsterdam".

Brobbey stands out as a shrewd option for Forest in the coming days, and if they were able to entice him to the club, it could make up for the blow of missing out on the prolific Gimenez.

The Ajax ace is a top-quality player in his own right, and still only 22 years of age, scoring 49 goals and registering 19 assists for Ajax to date, as well as winning three caps for the Netherlands. His international captain Van Dijk has spoken highly about his compatriot's qualities, too, saying:

"I think he’s a great boy. He is a great talent and basically has everything. He is fast, strong and can finish well. He had said in an interview that he would score against us, but luckily, we were able to prevent that. He can be a very good weapon [for the World Cup], but it’s up to the national coach."

Forest signing Brobbey may feel like a real coup, given his international pedigree and the praise he has received from such a huge player in Van Dijk, and he scored a combined 31 league goals in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons combined.

The £48,000-a-week Dutchman may only improve, too, given his tender years, so the idea of him in a Reds shirt for many years to come is an exciting prospect for Reds supporters.

A £120,000-per-week Arsenal player is reportedly now a "top target" for one club outside the UK transfer window, with the player seen as their main priority to sign before they can no longer make new additions.

Players who left Arsenal in 2024 summer window

Manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu Gaspar offloaded a host of assets during the summer window, which closed last Friday, including some pretty big names.

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The Spaniard is gearing up for a mouth-watering clash against Tottenham.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Sep 5, 2024

Emile Smith-Rowe was the biggest of them all, after the midfielder became Fulham's club-record signing for an initial £27 million, which could rise to £34 million with add-ons included.

The attacking midfielder has started all three of Fulham's opening Premier League matches, scoring his first goal for the club recently, and he'll be looking to eventually work his way back into the England set-up in time for the 2026 USA World Cup.

Alongside Smith-Rowe, Eddie Nketiah sealed a £30 million switch to Crystal Palace, where he'll have the exact same goal as his Smith-Rowe – eventual England contention.

Aaron Ramsdale, Mohamed Elneny, Cedric Soares, Fabio Vieira, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Reiss Nelson and Karl Hein also left the Emirates Stadium over the summer window, but there are a couple of players who couldn't seal an exit, despite repeated links.

Thomas Partey was regularly tipped to leave Arsenal, and Arteta will be thankful to have not given the green-light on a transfer away for the Ghanaian, as the Gunners are now very short in midfield for their looming north London derby trip to north London.

Theoretically, Partey could still depart with both the Turkish and Greek windows still open, but a suspension for Declan Rice and injury to summer signing Mikel Merino highlights just how crucial the 31-year-old will be for Arteta in the coming months.

Left-back Kieran Tierney was also regularly linked with an Arsenal exit, but he's now been named in their official Champions League squad, much to the surprise of many who believed he may not even be included in their final Premier League squad submission – with the deadline on September 14.

Tierney emerges as "top target" for Istanbul Basaksehir

Now, according to reports out of Spain, Tierney has emerged as a "top target" for Istanbul Basaksehir, with the Turkish window remaining open until the end of next week.

It is unclear what Arsenal's stance is on this, but if they were to entertain any Basaksehir bid for the Scotsman, they could have to replace him with another homegrown or locally trained player for their Champions League squad.

The £120,000-per-week defender spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad, and is unlikely to feature too often under Arteta this season, with his contract also set to expire in 2026 – giving Arsenal limited time to make a decent amount of money back off his £25 million transfer fee.

Setting their sights on the future, Newcastle United are reportedly among the clubs who are interested in signing a Championship gem whose brother is already hoping to break through in the Premier League.

Newcastle transfer news

Whilst much of Newcastle's summer was spent chasing Marc Guehi only to fail in their pursuit, the Magpies looked to have broadened their search for reinforcements ahead of 2025. Those at St James' Park have been linked with further moves for the likes of Anthony Elanga, having failed with a last-gasp bid on deadline day at the end of August, and Lille's Jonathan David.

David would be a particularly wise acquisition, given that he's set to become a free agent following a number of impressive seasons leading the line for Lille. The Canada international, still just 24 years old, could be in line to make his biggest move yet and may even arrive in Newcastle to form a frightening partnership with Alexander Isak.

Newcastle star was worth £29m when PIF arrived, now he's worth 245% more

He’s been a huge hit since his move to Newcastle.

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 12, 2024

A duo who would solve any attacking problems for years to come, the Magpies have also reportedly set their sights beyond Isak and David, with one Championship gem on the agenda.

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Newcastle are very keen on signing Harry Gray from Leeds United, but aren't alone in their interest, with Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal also eyeing a move to sign the young striker.

Of course, the name Gray is one that North London should already be familiar with, given that Archie Gray completed a move to Spurs worth a reported £30m this summer. Now, both the Lilywhites, their bitter rivals and Newcastle reportedly want to bring the midfielder's brother to the Premier League in 2025.

Still just 15 years old, Gray could have quite the decision to make amid such interest, which could one day see him square off against his older brother in the top flight.

Gray could follow similar path to Archie Gray

Gray certainly finds himself in an interesting position amid such interest. He could join his older brother and play alongside him for years to come in North London in what would undoubtedly be a wholesome moment. Or, he may well decide to ignite the classic narrative of sibling rivalry by joining the likes of Newcastle and instead squaring off against his brother.

A different type of player to the Spurs man, Gray is a striker and has already caught the eye of The Athletic's Phil Hay, who told the Square Ball podcast, as relayed by One Football: “I mean, Harry is another one they’ve been talking about for a long time as looking incredibly talented, masses and masses of potential. The thing you’ve seen with Archie; he manages himself really well.

“He lives as a footballer needs to. A proper professional even though he’s so young. He seems driven to develop and get better which I suspect is in the Gray genes. Big things expected of both of them.”

As the young striker continues to progress, it will be interesting to see whether Newcastle push on with their interest even further.

Wayne Rooney has got his Plymouth players training harder after a run of one win in 11 that leaves the Pilgrims fighting Championship relegation.

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• Plymouth sit 23rd in Championship
• Rooney under increasing pressure
• Pilgrims host Middlesbrough next

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  It's been a hugely disappointing season for Rooney on his return to management with Plymouth. The Home Park outfit are 23rd in the Championship, having lost each of their past four games – a run in which they've conceded 14 goals.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rooney is not only fighting to keep Plymouth up but also to save his reputation as a manager, having failed in his previous stint with Birmingham. The Pilgrims face a hectic festive period, with four games in 12 days, but he believes now is the time to up the intensity of training in a bid to improve Plymouth's fortunes and potentially save his job.

• WHAT ROONEY SAID

  "We've actually stepped the training up to train harder," the Manchester United legend told BBC Radio Devon. "I feel it's really important from now until mid-January that we step the training up because that gives your body a resilience to try and prevent injuries.

  "We're trying different things to make sure we get the players in the right condition to get through the next three weeks."

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• TELL ME MORE

  "I spoke to the players and I feel it's something we need to step up," Rooney added. "Yesterday we trained a lot harder then we normally would on that day because this time next week we'll be playing a game.

  "We have to get our players' bodies into a shape and routine that they're ready for that hit every three or four days going up towards mid-January really, to give them that almost mini pre-season to get them through to the end of the season."

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has provided the latest in Nottingham Forest's pursuit of another signing this summer as they look to hand Nuno Espírito Santo a squad capable of pulling well clear of the Premier League relegation battle this season.

Nottingham Forest keen to make signings

With a month left in the transfer window, it was suggested that Nottingham Forest would be looking to make five new signings before the window slams shut, with the reliable John Percy explaining that the Premier League side were on the hunt for "two wingers, a forward, a left-back and another goalkeeper" before the August 30th deadline.

Since then, they have added those two wingers, with Jota Silva arriving from Portuguese outfit Vitória S.C, while more recently they completed a move to sign Paraguayan forward Ramon Sosa on a five-year deal.

Perfect for Sosa: Nottingham Forest could land their own Foden in £35m ace

The Reds have already had a proposal rejected for the talent this summer.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 17, 2024

“Ramón has been coveted by many clubs but was so clear in his desire to join Nottingham Forest", Forest's Chief Football Officer Ross Wilson explained. “We could all feel his energy, emotion, pride and excitement to be here from the first minute he arrived".

Now, attention is turning elsewhere, with the club understood to be keen on signing Aston Villa left-back Alex Moreno on a season-long loan deal to provide cover at full back. They have also been linked with a move for Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, so the final thing on the agenda is a new centre forward.

Romano issues update on striker hunt

Now, Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Garibaldi have seen a bid turned down for Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez as they look to bolster their frontline.

As it stands, they have both Chris Wood (who scored in Saturday's draw) and Taiwo Awoniyi to call upon, but they are looking for further firepower and have identified the Mexican as a potential solution. Gimenez was thought to be on the radar of Tottenham last season as he enjoyed an excellent campaign, and he has started the new season in similar vein with two goals and an assist in two outings.

As per Romano, sharing news from Mexican media outlets, Forest are still in negotiations over a move for the talented forward, having seen an initial 25m euro (£21m) offer rejected. It is added that the offer is "not enough for Feyenoord to accept" and that they are holding out for a higher fee, but the Reds haven't given up and are pushing ahead to agree on a new number.

They will be in no rush for Feyenoord to sell the Mexican, with Gimenez still having three years left to run on his £29,000 a week deal with the Eredivisie champions. But with Wood now the wrong side of his peak and Awoniyi unreliable fitness wise, his addition would be a massive boost for Forest if they can get it over the line.