Netherlands international goalkeeper Marco Bizot admits he missed out on a move to Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest in January as Stade Brestois simply didn’t want to sell so late in the window.
After Strasbourg accepted Nottingham Forest’s deadline day bid for Matz Sels, an unhappy throng of supporters made no secret of expressing their dissatisfaction, an already unpopular ownership group cashing in on a player dubbed ‘a legend’ of the Alsace outfit while failing to bring in a replacement.
And the criticism that has come Strasbourg’s way only justifies the decision Ligue 1 rivals Brest made on February 1st, turning down an approach from Nuno Espirito Santo’s for their own veteran shot-stopper.
Nottingham Forest wanted Marco Bizot
“That was very serious. Nottingham Forest made an official offer to Brest,” Bizot tells Voetbal International. “If the club had accepted it, I would now be in England.
“But the offer was resolutely rejected, which I thought was very logical. It was all very last-minute. There will be few clubs who want to lose their first goalkeeper a few hours before the transfer window closes.
“The attitude of the club management also showed a lot of confidence and appreciation. We will see what will happen in the summer.”
Bizot, now 32 and capped once by the Dutch national team, has blossomed into one of the finest glovesmen in France since his £5 million move from AZ Alkmaar back in 2020. The one-time Ajax and Genk ace is making no secret of his desire to ‘make a transfer next summer’ but it remains to be seen if the City Ground ship has already raised anchor and drifted away from the harbour.
Forest now have three first-team goalkeepers, after all. Sels joining Odysseas Vlachodimos and the error-prone Matt Turner at Nuno Espirito Santo’s disposal. It is not beyond the realms of possibility, of course, that Forest look to cash in on Vlachidimos or Turner, or perhaps even both.
Ligue 1 star wants to leave Brest in summer
“My goal is to make a transfer next summer,” Bizot adds. “To see if I can take a step up, perhaps to another league. If you are at the top and have good statistics, it increases the chance of a nice transfer.”
Nottingham Forest, who lost 4-2 to Midland rivals Aston Villa on Saturday, will be hoping to bounce back against Manchester United in the FA Cup tonight.
HITC Football understands that Nuno’s side are one of the clubs keen on Club Brugge’s Nigeria midfielder Raphael Onyedika.
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