Premier League duo Nottingham Forest and Wolves are eyeing £25 million Espanyol defender Cesar Montes after a superb first month at the La Liga outfit, according to Spanish publication La Grada.
Whoever said there is no value to be found in the winter window?
Montes, a January signing from Monterrey, is already a talismanic presence at the RCDE Stadium. Espanyol have only won six league games this season and half of those have come with the Mexican at the heart of their suddenly solid backline, an outrageous last-ditch tackle denying Real Mallorca what appeared to be a certain equaliser last weekend.
Montes, in his new Catalonian home, is showing the leadership skills that has one-time Mexico international Hector Moreno labelling him a future El Tri captain.
Nottingham Forest and Wolves like Cesar Montes of Espanyol
“As a young man, he already pointed out that he would go to Europe,” a former coach tells AS.
“He’s a tall central defender, who dominates the passing game and handles the ball quite well without being super classy. (Montes) can play in a dominant team and in another that defends deep. He is tall but fast. He is very competitive and an excellent decision maker.
“Even as a young player, he was a starter in one of the best teams in Mexico and has edged out veteran stars.”
Montes only joined Espanyol on December 27th, signing a long-term deal until 2028. With Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers already enquiring about his availability, however, Los Periquitos may be in for a long old. Especially as Joselu and Vinicius Souza are also attracting interest.
Montes, La Grada adds, has a £25 million release clause in his contract. Espanyol, then, may be powerless to prevent the 26-year-old’s departure.
Wolves, interestingly, a long-time admirers of Montes. The Molineux outfit were linked with Raul Jimenez’s international team-mate back in 2020 too; Montes admitting that he’d be tempted by the prospect of donning that ‘old gold’ kit.
“The truth is that (Wolves) is a great club,” Montes told TUDN. “They are doing things very well. Raul has grown a lot, and now he is an important player in the Premier League.
“It is a top league.”
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