Nottingham Forest will be trying to add to their squad prior to the Premier League season getting underway.
Right now, the European Championships are still taking centre stage – but it won’t be long before talk returns to domestic football.
Forest survived relegation by the skin of their teeth last season and will hope for a smoother ride in the top flight during 2024/25.
In order to do that some new recruits will be sought as the Reds aim to ensure Nuno Espirito Santo has plenty at his disposal.
Last week, Moussa Niakhate joined Lyon and that means that Forest will be looking to sign a central defender before the season starts.
Now, a report has emerged that another big-money bid might be on the cards
Nottingham Forest will make huge bid for Jake O’Brien
The Lyon defender – formerly of the Crystal Palace academy – is a wanted man this summer.
It’s been claimed by Foot 01 that Forest are going to move ahead of Everton in the race to sign the Republic of Ireland international.
It’s believed that Everton were preparing a bid in the region of £20 million but owner John Textor is keen to recoup closer to £29 million.
Forest are subsequently going to make a bid as they look to try and replace Niakhate with a player who could now be shunted down the order at Lyon.
The 23-year-old defender enjoyed a solid campaign during 2023/24, making 32 appearances in all competitions as Lyon secured a place in Europe.
A right-sided central defender, O’Brien also scored five goals and surprisingly for a centre-back, claimed two assists.
Squawka also shows that the defender is strong in the air, winning more headers than Niakhate last season and also making more clearances.
Forest and Lyon striking up a strong relationship
It’s fair to say that there is some serious back-scratching going on here between Evangelos Marinakis and Textor.
Forest have recouped a total in the region of £50 million for Niakhate and Orel Mangala from Lyon and that represents great business.
There’s a saying that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know and in this case, Marinakis looks to be teaming up with Textor to exploit the financial fair play parameters.
After Lyon signed Niakhate in time for his sale to go on the last round of PSR, it looks as though Forest are going to return the favour.
Lots to like about O’Brien signing
There does seem to be a clear shift in strategy from Forest in the transfer market this summer.
So far, Elliot Anderson has signed from Newcastle, whilst young St Pauli utility man Eric da Silva Moreira has checked in too.
It would appear that the days of Forest signing players at the wrong end of their careers on stupid wages are gone.
O’Brien is only 23 and would arrive as a player with plenty of untapped potential and enough scope to succeed in the Premier League.
The youngster didn’t make a first-team appearance at Palace and was instead loaned out to Swindon before being sold to Lyon.
He’s already played twice for the Republic of Ireland team and he does look set for a bright and prosperous future in the game.
