Neco Williams says he can’t wait to make his City Ground debut after putting pen to paper for Nottingham Forest.
The defender has linked up with the Reds in a £17million move from Liverpool, agreeing a four-year deal. His arrival maintains a busy transfer window for the club, with six new arrivals in so far, as preparations step up for the Premier League.
Forest and head coach Steve Cooper have made clear they want to establish themselves in the top-flight, following last season’s promotion success. And Williams says the club’s ambition was part of the attraction behind his move.
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Cooper's contract
Head coach Steve Cooper says he isn’t thinking about his own contract situation, with his full focus on preparing for Nottingham Forest’s Premier League return.
The Welshman has a year left to run on the deal he signed when he took charge at the City Ground last September. Owner Evangelos Marinakis spoke about getting Cooper tied down to a new one after promotion was secured, and an agreement is believed to be close, with talks having taken place in the off-season.
Reds star Brennan Johnson’s contract was also due to expire in 2023, but he has put pen to paper on fresh terms. And that left many fans hoping the manager would be next.
Asked if there was any update on his situation, Cooper told NottinghamshireLive: “I don’t know. It’s not something I think about too much, if I’m being honest.
Transfer tussle
Everton are said to have had an opening bid rejected for Nottingham Forest target Morgan Gibbs-White.
The Reds have a strong interest in the Wolverhampton Wanderers ace as they look to bolster their attacking resources. But they face competition for his signature, with a significant price tag seemingly being set.
According to The Telegraph, Everton’s first offer of more than £20m has been turned down. Wolves reportedly want closer to £30m, including add-ons, for the England Under-21 international.
One of their rivals making a move may well force Forest’s hand, with the club having already been busy in the transfer market. They are said to be “weighing up” making an offer, along with Crystal Palace.
Signings strategy
Nottingham Forest head of data and analytic recruitment George Syrianos has insisted that the club will "continue to act sensibly and prudently" in the transfer window after a busy start to the summer.
The 34-year-old arrived at the City Ground last summer after Dane Murphy was appointed as the club's chief executive and installed a new recruitment set-up. Syrianos had previously been head of analytics in his homeland at VfB Stuttgart.
That exposure to the Bundesliga has become particularly apparent already this summer, with half of their additions arriving directly from the German top-flight. Forest club-record signing Taiwo Awoniyi was the first signing last month but has since been followed by Moussa Niakhaté and Omar Richards.
They may not even be the last players to travel that increasingly well-trodden route. "Of course, we have our transfer goals that need to be achieved and there are very interesting players in the Bundesliga who would fit in well with our concept," Syrianos said to BILD.
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