The German moved to Nottingham Forest from Huddersfield Town last August.
Aitor Karanka wanted to make more signings at Nottingham Forest in January and informed the board of his wish to sell Michael Hefele, the club’s summer recruit from Huddersfield Town, according to the Telegraph’s John Percy.
Hefele arrived from Huddersfield as one of 17 first-team players brought to Forest by Karanka since the end of last season – an intake that cost the Reds a reported outlay of £23 million.
By the time of the Basque’s departure as Nottingham Forest manager on Friday morning – with the Trentside club sitting four points off the Championship play-offs in seventh position – Hefele had appeared in 18 of of possible 29 fixtures and was a starter in all but two of those outings.
Percy claims, however, that Karanka’s stance on Hefele was just one of the numerous factors which contributed to a strained relationship with the City Ground hierarchy, alongside his refusal to play Arvin Appiah more often, and ‘bewildering’ substitutions in last month’s 3-3 draw against Norwich City – a game that Forest had 3-0.
The German centre-back was a regular in the Huddersfield side promoted to the Premier League two seasons ago, and is under contract until 2021 at Nottingham Forest.
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