Nottingham Forest continue talks with £50m man and 26-goal striker as two bids fail

Nottingham Forest are holding talks with Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez and Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah while also agreeing a deal to bring in Alex Moreno from Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

The two-time European Champions have a habit of making a flurry of late moves in the transfer window. And the summer of 2024 looks unlikely to be any different.

After reinforcing their backline ranks with the 6ft-plus giants Nikola Milenkovic and Carlos Miguel, easing the pressure on Morgan Gibbs-White with Elliot Anderson, and landing two tricky wingers in Jota Silva and Ramon Sosa, the final week of August will centre on centre-forwards.

Nottingham Forest, HITC understands, have now spoken to up to four targets for the number nine role.

Nottingham Forest eye Santiago Gimenez and Eddie Nketiah

A £21 million bid has already been rejected for the former.

Gimenez, previously linked by Real Madrid and admired by Tottenham Hotspur before Dominic Solanke’s arrival, scored 26 goals last season while netting four in three at the start of the new campaign.

“I think he is a player who will also score goals in the Premier League,” Feyenoord legend Mario Been tells ESPN” I think he is a striker who can still make a step. He is only 23 years old.”

Arsenal, meanwhile, demanded a staggering £50 million for Nketiah earlier in the summer. With time ticking down, it remains to be seen if The Gunners are now willing to soften their demands. Marseille were scared off, while Bournemouth opted to replace Solanke with Porto’s Evanilson.

Nottingham Forest have seen an opening offer for Nketiah turned down too.

But, like with Gimenez, talks are ongoing. Arsenal may be unlikely to stand in the academy graduate’s way, especially with Kai Havertz establishing himself as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice striker and Gabriel Jesus back to fitness.

“We need more (signings),” Nuno Espirito Santo told the Nottingham Post last month, his demand for ‘new wingers’ answered by the arrivals of Jota and Sosa. “Not too many, but I think we still need some things.