Transfer news and gossip from Nottingham Forest as Steve Cooper prepares for the new Premier League season

Nottingham Forest are reportedly watching with intent as Republic of Ireland star Nathan Collins prepares to make his third big summer move in a row.

The 22-year-old centre-half is available for transfer as Wolves look to stay on the right side of Financial Fair Play rules and two bids from Brentford have had offers of £20.5 million and £22m turned down. Thomas Frank has now apparently gone back with a bid of £23m plus add-ons – but Wolves are said to be holding out for £25m even if Collins has already ‘agreed terms’ over the move.

Forest and West Ham are waiting in the wings too, according to the Irish Sun, who say that although “neither has tabled a formal bid that could change if and when” one is accepted from Brentford. Liverpool have also been credited with interest by the Irish press.

Collins has spent the past two years in the top flight since joining Burnley from Stoke City for an initial £12m in 2021. He moved to Wolves last summer for about £20.5m, the highest fee ever paid for an Irish player. Last week he was named FAI player of the year.

He had lost his regular place in the Wolves starting XI following the arrival of Julien Lopetgui but said recently: “The new manager has been good for us since he came in and obviously it was tough for me not playing, because I always want to play.

“But when he came in, we had one goal to aim for and that was to stay in the Premier League, and we did that with his help. To get that goal, he had to make a few changes, he took some risks, and everything worked out well.

“Even though I’ve not played as much since he came in, I’ve learnt a lot and I’m just looking forward to the future now.”