TARGET ‘WANTS TO LEAVE’ AND NOTTINGHAM FOREST CAN ALSO SIGN £20M ACE FOR FREE

Besiktas have confirmed that Nottingham Forest target Romain Saiss ‘wants to leave’ while the Premier League outfit can also sign former Inter Milan midfielder Roberto Gagliardini on a free transfer.

Gagliardini lascia l'Inter in estate, gia' individuato il sostituto in rosa

After investing well over £100 million on nearly 30 new signings during the 2022/23 campaign, it is likely to be a case of ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ this time around.

Nottingham Forest are yet to add a single new player to their squad since securing survival last term. Well, not unless you count Chris Wood; the former Newcastle United striker turning his loan deal into a permanent transfer.

Forest laid the groundwork for a strong and varied squad during the previous two windows, and their focus now shifts to adding the odd lick of paint here and there.

Romain Saiss, a 33-year-old Premier League veteran who spent six years at Wolverhampton Wanderers, could arrive at the City Ground as a replacement for Steve Cook. Cook, per The Telegraph, is available for transfer alongside Sam Surridge, Emmanuel Dennis, Ethan Horvath and Jonjo Shelvey.

“Saiss wants to leave,” Besiktas’ sporting director, Ceyhun Kazanci, tells NTV Spor.

“But we haven’t received an offer at the level we wanted yet. If the offer meets our expectations, we will approve his departure.”

Nottingham Forest could bring Romain Saiss back to England

Saiss was outstanding as Morocco reached the semi-finals of the Qatar World Cup. He also shone as a left-sided centre-half in a back-three at Wolves. And Saiss’ arrival would come on the back of injury-hit campaigns for both Scott McKenna and Moussa Niakhate.

Romain Saiss on the brink of Besiktas move after Wolves exit, medical done

If Saiss takes Cook’s place, then Gagliardini would be a clear upgrade on the underperforming Shelvey in the deep-lying central midfield role. Gazzetta dello Sport reported Nottingham Forest’s interest in January.

The Italy international – who joined Inter Milan in a £20 million deal from Atalanta six years ago – is now a free-agent, his contract expiring over the weekend.

“Hi, Inter! Thank you for these years together,” Gaglardini wrote on social media, announcing his San Siro departure via Tuttomercatoweb. “Wonderful, intense (years). A privilege to be part of this family.

“Thank you for helping me grow on and off the pitch, thank you everyone for this incredible journey.

“Thank you Inter.”