The latest Nottingham Forest headlines brought to you by NottinghamshireLive on June 27...
Forest 'have asked' about Chelsea transfer
Nottingham Forest have been linked with a move for Chelsea defender Levi Colwill.
The 19 year-old Blues defender spent the past 12 months at Huddersfield Town in the Championship, featuring 29 times and scoring twice as the Yorkshire outfit reached the play-off final. It was his touch on a James Garner cross which wrong-footed Terriers shot-stopper Lee Nicholls to provide the only goal of the game and send Forest into the Premier League.
Forest are looking for another central defender to add competition to Joe Worrall, Scott McKenna and Steve Cook. Tobias Figueiredo has already left and Loic Mbe Soh is unlikely to feature in the Premier League, and Fabrizio Romano claims the Reds may have found the ideal candidate.
According to the Italian transfers expert, Forest are part of a four-way race for the Chelsea defender. Alongside Steve Cooper's side, Leicester, Crystal Palace and Brighton are claimed to have asked for Colwill's services.
Colwill, a Chelsea graduate, has aspirations of playing as high as possible following his failed promotion attempt with Huddersfield and has not ruled out a move away in order to get as many minutes as possible.
Chris Wilder breaks silence on Djed Spence future after Forest heroics
Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder says Djed Spence has expressed a desire to leave for Tottenham Hotspur this summer but the two clubs remain well apart in their valuations of the wing-back.
Spence, 21, broke onto the scene as one of England's brightest young talents after a brilliant loan spell with Nottingham Forest. The England youth international's excellent performance on the right side of defence played a big part in the Reds' promotion to the Premier League.
His displays have been so impressive that the Boro wing-back has drawn strong transfer interest from Tottenham and Forest as well as from across Europe.
While a move is expected, Spurs are yet to table a formal bid for Spence's services and Wilder has told the wing-back that he will be expected to return for pre-season if no deal can be struck.
The main stumbling block is at Boro's £20 million valuation of the wing-back.
"If nothing happens with Djed, then he’s our player and he’ll be back for pre-season," said Wilder to the Northern Echo.
Forest 'eye up' Arsenal transfer as Tottenham solution
Nottingham Forest are reportedly viewing Arsenal winger Ainsley Maitland-Niles as a replacement for Djed Spence.
The Reds are looking for a new right-sided wing-back to fill the gap left after Spence returned to Middlesbrough following his stellar loan spell at the City Ground. The Boro man's incredible performances - providing three goals and five assists last season - has resulted in strong transfer interest from Tottenham, Forest and clubs overseas.
Tottenham have yet to lodge a formal bid for Spence and the two sides are claimed to be well apart in their valuations of the England youth international. In the meantime, Spence has been told to prepare himself for pre-season with Boro if no deal can be struck.
Forest, meanwhile, are reportedly looking at Maitland-Niles as a possible candidate to fill that right-sided spot. Earlier this month it was reported that Forest view the Arsenal man as a transfer priority with staff at the Emirates "ready to sell" the 24-year-old. The Daily Mail have added to those reports by explaining the role he would have should he end up at the City Ground.
Maitland-Niles has one year left on his deal at the Emirates and Arsenal may be looking to move him on for a fee now rather than risk losing him next summer for nothing. He remains keen to play regularly which is something Forest would be able to offer following their promotion to the Premier League.
Forest suffer transfer blow as major deal hits big hurdle
Nottingham Forest have reportedly hit a stumbling block in their pursuit of Mainz defender Moussa Niakhate.
The French defender is a target for the Reds to provide further competition for Joe Worrall, Scott McKenna and Steve Cook. Tobias Figueiredo has already left and Loic Mbe Soh is unlikely to feature in the Premier League.
Niakhate, 25, has a year left on his contract at Bundesliga side Mainz but negotiations have hit an impasse with the two parties apart in their valuations of the athletic defender.
Previous reports claimed there was no longer a "willingness to talk" from the German side having received a "ridiculous" first offer from the Forest camp. It was said that the fee offered was "far below" €10 million (£8.6m).
The Reds have seemingly suffered a further blow with Sky Sports today (June 26) reporting that Forest's chances of signing the defender are "receding" due to being unable to reach an agreement on the fee. They add that the Reds may now be focusing on other targets.
