Nottingham Forest have added Nantes’ Ligue 1 winger Moses Simon to their summer plans, according to Foot Mercato, after Leeds United tried to lure him to the Premier League in January.
At this stage, Forest’s transfer wishlist would make the Bayeaux Tapestry look short and succinct.
12 new players have already arrived at the City Ground. By the time September arrives, that figure could be closer to be 20. Remo Freuler is on his way from Atalanta, Ruslan Malinovskyi could join him, while Emerson Palmieri (Chelsea), Francis Amuzu (Anderlecht) and Pervis Estupinan (Villarreal) have all been linked this week alone.
Now, it’s Moses Simon’s turn to be mentioned alongside a club who appear to be taking a ‘kid in a candy store’ approach to the summer window. Forest fans will just be hoping it doesn’t leave the play-off winners with a nasty stomach ache.
Moses Simon is the latest name on Nottingham Forest’s list
According to Foot Mercato, the spring-heeled Nigeria international is now being discussed internally at the City Ground.
There has never been any doubt about Simon’s talent. But the one-time Liverpool target has added a real ruthless edge to his game recently. He was the standout performer in a talented Nigeria team at the African Cup of Nations, helped fire Nantes to Coupe de France glory and even tore Paris Saint-Germain a new one during a famous 3-1 win.
“Simon had so much. We couldn’t handle (him) properly,” sighed former PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino at the time.
Simon, a left-winger who can also play through the middle, scored six goals and set up eight more in 2022/23. He could have joined Leeds United in January, only for Nantes to block the move. After a top-half finish and a first trophy in two decades, Les Canaris can certainly rest easy knowing they made the right call.
“It is true. My agent told me about some offers; Leeds United came calling with strong offer and (it was my) intention to seal the deal immediately,” Moses said a few months ago. “(But) my club want me to finish the season with FC Nantes.”
The yellow-clad club will not keep Simon against his will beyond the summer, however; Softening their previously hard-line stance.
“They (Simon and Lille-bound Ludovic Blas) have an exit voucher,” Nantes coach Antoine Kombouare admits. “It’s clear. After that, it depends on the offers they have. If they have offers which suit them and which suit the club, they will leave.
“We will be very happy (for them) and we will work to replace them.”
Simon will reportedly cost around £10 million.
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