The Tricky Trees certainly mean business this summer. It's a rare day when Evangelos Marinakis means anything other than business in the transfer window.
After a tough campaign which saw three managers sacked before the arrival of Vitor Pereira, Forest are looking to return to the heights of European qualification in the 2024/25 campaign.
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Transfer targets will be the key to that, whether it's in attack or in Pereira's backline. With Chris Wood not getting any younger, and Igor Jesus yet to fully convince, there's room for Said El Mala to become the new talisman at the City Ground.
He's reportedly emerged as a target following the collapse of Brentford's deal to secure his signature. It would be some move from Forest to swoop in and sign such an in-demand player.
Before El Mala potentially arrives, however, those in the Midlands have their sights set on a defensive upgrade.
According to SiamoLaRoma in Italy, via Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest are now closing in on an agreement to sign Jan Ziolkowski this summer. They've scheduled a meeting with his entourage and are willing to match AS Roma's €20m (£17m) asking price not long after they saw their initial bid rejected by the Italian side.
It's a major boost for all parties. Ziolkowski's departure would help ease Roma's FFP concerns and hand Forest a much-needed defensive reinforcement.
At 6'3, the 21-year-old has plenty to offer and will provide plenty of competition for Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic if Forest secure his signature in the coming months.
Towering defender Ziolkowski is one to watch
It's worth pointing out that Ziolkowski is still such a young player. If it wasn't for Roma's financial problems, then they may have been willing to keep hold of such a player. As it is, however, this is someone who started just five Serie A games this season and has the value to ease their FFP concerns.
Forest certainly won't complain, though. They could land a defenderr who still has so much potential and is the perfect profile in the current version of the Premier League, which is reliant on physical attributes at times.
25/26 P90
Murillo
Ziolkowski
|
Minutes
|
2,133
|
508
|
|
Tackles
|
1.48
|
2.67
|
|
Recoveries
|
4.3
|
5.33
|
|
Duel success
|
53.6%
|
53.6%
|
|
Pass success
|
83.6%
|
85%
|
Although only in a small dose, the numbers make for good reading as far as Ziolkowski is concerned. They represent an aggressive defender, who is still more than capable in possession next to someone like Murillo. For £17m, it's no surprise that Forest have pushed ahead with the deal.
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