Nottingham Forest accelerating talks to sign Premier League star who wants late exit

After a slow start to the transfer window, Nottingham Forest are now attempting to complete a late flurry of deals for Oliver Glasner.

The Austrian has already welcomed Liam Delap from Chelsea for a club-record £50m fee, but they’re not sitting back and admiring their work quite yet.

Evangelos Marinakis is also looking to reunite Glasner with Daniel Munoz. The Tricky Trees have reportedly lodged a bid worth around £22m, with their manager keen to join up with the right wing-back again after so much success together at Crystal Palace.

Even if Munoz arrives, those in the Midlands could still add another Premier League star. Alongside Delap and the Crystal Palace defender, Pape Matar Sarr is also on Forest’s radar.

The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder wants to leave the north London club and although it looked like AS Monaco orGalatasaray were well placed to grant that wish, the Senegal international reportedly wants to stay in the Premier League.

That’s good news for Nottingham Forest, who are still looking to fill the gaping hole in their midfield left behind by Elliot Anderson.

REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge

The England international swapped the City Ground for the Etihad in a deal worth £116m earlier this summer and whilst Forest have since signed Xaver Schlager, they still need reinforcements.

Given his desire to stay put in England’s top flight, Sarr wouldn’t exactly be a bad option to turn to before the window slams shut next week.

Nottingham Forest accelerate Pape Matar Sarr move

As reported by Sacha Tavolieri, Nottingham Forest are now accelerating talks to sign Sarr from Tottenham before the end of the window. The Tricky Trees are actively attempting to convince the midfielder to complete a move to the City Ground and could land a paid loan deal with the option to buy.

It would be a good deal all around. The player would get his wish to stay in the Premier League, Spurs would offload a player who wants to leave and Forest would have their midfield solution. With just days left in the transfer window, however, things will need to move quickly.

It will take some doing to replicate Anderson’s work out of possession. The £116m man made more recoveries per 90 than any other outfield player in the Premier League last season with 8.21. But Forest’s tactic certainly makes sense.

Rather than signing just one replacement, their plan has always been two. It’s why Lucas Bergvall was an early target and why they’ve since returned to Tottenham in an attempt to sign Sarr instead.

Dubbed “brilliant” by former Spurs and Forest boss Ange Postecoglou in 2024, Sarr could yet seal a move ahead of the deadline.