Jason Lowe is reportedly on the radar of Nottingham Forest and Bolton Wanderers after being released by relegated Blackburn Rovers.
The fact that few Blackburn Rovers supporters had a tear in their eye as academy product Jason Lowe was released at the end of last season does not exactly paint the 25-year-old in the best light.
Therefore, Nottingham Forest supporters could be forgiven for feeling a little underwhelmed as Lowe becomes the latest player linked with a summer move to the City Ground. According to The Sun, Mark Warburton’s side are mulling over a move for the 11-time England Under-21 international, although Bolton Wanderers appear to be the frontrunners.
Lowe is a limited yet versatile player
And the report adds that Bolton are prepared to offer Lowe a £500,000-a-year deal despite their financial troubles with manager Phil Parkinson seeing him as a potential replacement for Jay Spearing, who failed to agree a new contract.
However, perhaps Lowe would be a more astute signing for Forest than initially expected. A versatile and adaptable player, the Wigan-born enforcer is capable of playing at centre midfield and right-back – two positions Forest could do with reinforcing.
Forest were reliant upon ageing midfield duo Chris Cohen and James Vaughan last season, the 30-something duo rolling back the years with a series of superb performances as the club secured their Championship survival by the skin of their teeth.
Therefore, Lowe could act as an energetic alternative, offering the same tenacity though lacking a little poise in possession.
Problem solver
Furthermore, Warburton appears to have been on the search for a new right-back to put pressure on Eric Lichaj, the Scottish Sun claiming Forest made an offer to reunite the manager with Rangers’ James Tavernier, who was his first signing at Ibrox in 2015.
Tavernier netted 15 league goals for Rangers in 2015/16
However, Lowe started 16 league games last season at right-back and, though he’s not the most thrilling going forward, he could be a useful alternative.
On a free transfer, Lowe could solve two problems at once.
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