Relegation escape artists Nottingham Forest look to move for their fourth addition across the summer transfer window after submitting a first official bid for AS Roma center-back Roger Ibañez.
As ever, football insider Fabrizio Romano offered details surrounding Forest’s first attempts at the Brazilian, with the club putting forth an offer of around €25m (£21.5m) as negotiations are now said to be underway.
EXCLUSIVE: Nottingham Forest have submitted official bid to AS Roma for Roger Ibañez, proposal worth around €25m fee 🚨🔴🌳 #NFFC
Negotiations underway to reach an agreement, Forest are pushing for Brazilian CB. pic.twitter.com/D1aVIUG9aA
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 3, 2023
The 24-year-old Brazilian international defender has been a rock at the back for I Giallorossi over the last two seasons at Stadio Olimpico, helping the club win the 2021-22 Europa Conference League while also making an appearance in the finals of the Europa League last season.
It would be the third summer move that Forest has spent on acquiring further options for manager Steve Cooper irrespective of the club sealing a free deal for Nigerian international Ola Aina, with the club having already shelled out a combined ~£30m for Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga and Newcastle United center-forward Chris Wood.
After shedding seven members of the senior side in the aftermath of successfully avoiding a quick return to the Championship, Forest still have a bloated senior squad of 35 players, but despite that, the backline under Cooper has undoubtedly needed further investment after the club allowed 68 goals during the 2022-23 Premier League campaign.
Adding a player of Ibañez’s quality would no doubt go a long way to rectifying a leaky defense, while deploying him alongside the likes of Moussa Niakhaté, Willy Boly, and captain Joe Worrall could serve Cooper well in the upcoming season.
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