NOTTINGHAM FOREST HAVE UNTIL “TOMORROW” TO SEAL £13M ACE DEAL WITH TALKS ON

Today is Nottingham Forest’s final chance to trigger the £13 million release clause in Serhou Guirassy’s contract with the Stuttgart striker ‘dreaming’ of a move to the Premier League. 

It’s fair to say time is not exactly on Nottingham Forest’s side.

According to Kicker, talks are underway regarding a potential double deal which would see Serhou Guirassy and Stuttgart team-mate Borna Sosa swap the Mercedes Benz Arena for the City Ground.

But with Guirassy’s affordable £13 million release clause expiring on Friday, Forest must move fast or risk facing an inflated transfer fee for a man who’s 14 goals in 28 games helped save his current employers from the drop last term (BILD).

The well-travelled Guirassy turned down moves to West Ham and Crystal Palace back in 2020. He reportedly ‘dreams’ of a move to the Premier League these days, even if he does have reservations about joining a club where he would not necessarily be the first-choice ‘number nine’.

Nottingham Forest in Serhou Guirassy talks

Not that Stuttgart coach Sebastien Hoeness is losing any sleep. From his point of view, there’s nothing to suggest that Guirassy will force his way out before the window closes.

“I’ve already had two or three lengthy conversations with him,” Hoeness told ZVW today. “Serhou makes a very calm and relaxed impression. I find him very committed. (There is) no reason to be concerned.

“It should be nice (for Guirassy) to stay here. Serhour is very popular here. We also have quality in the team, he can see that too. He’s integrated, feels comfortable and we play football that suits him.

“I’m relatively relaxed and have a certain optimism that we, as a club, will keep a strong group together.”

Following a relatively quiet summer at the City Ground – at least in comparison to last year – Nottingham Forest are still hoping to bring in a midfielder, a left-back, a striker and another goalkeeper over the next three weeks.

And hitting a brick wall in their pursuit of Merih Demiral, Djordje Petrovic, Alejo Veliz and Emil Audero, Forest are now facing further frustration with PSV’s Ibrahim Sangare – reportedly the club’s leading target – in talks to join Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

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Latest Nottingham Forest transfer news as Steve Cooper’s Reds target summer signings in final weeks of window

Head coach Steve Cooper is eager to further strengthen his Nottingham Forest squad before the transfer window closes on September 1.

In contrast to last summer’s British record of 22 arrivals, the Reds have so far made just three new additions this time around. Goalkeeper Matt Turner put pen to paper this week, following Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga in committing to the club, while Chris Wood’s move from Newcastle United officially became a permanent deal.

Forest remain keen to secure a return for Manchester United stopper Dean Henderson, while a left-back, centre-back and midfielder are on their shopping list, as well as, potentially, another attacker. As he prepares for Saturday’s season opener against Arsenal, Cooper is keen to get business done in the remaining three weeks of the window.

“It is difficult to put an exact number on it,” he said of the number of signings the Reds are targeting. “One of the things we talked about at the end of the season is that, by retaining our Premier League status – and because of how tough that was – it gave us an opportunity to grow.

“One of the main ways to grow is with the squad and the team. So that is still the case.

“We want to do better than last season, and that will be really tough. To do better you have to strengthen the team and the squad. That will give you the chance to do that. There are no guarantees, of course.

“We are still in that process. We want to see that happen.

“We are pleased with the players who have come in. Would we have liked to do more business by now? Absolutely. Me, for sure.

“But at the same time, as I always do, I will commit to the guys who are here and make sure they get everything we can give them, to help them prepare for a game. If we can strengthen and add to the squad in the next few weeks then that is going to be really beneficial to help us progress.”