Aitor Karanka reportedly aims to raid former club Middlesbrough to sign Adam Clayton for Nottingham Forest this summer.
Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka is hoping to build a side capable of challenging for the Premier League, so it makes perfect sense that he would aim to reunite with a couple of players who he earned promotion with at Middlesbrough as recently as 2016.
Since taking over at the City Ground, Karanka has been linked with the likes of Patrick Bamford, Grant Leadbitter and Daniel Ayala. And the Mirror (live transfer blog, 11.09pm) is reporting that Nottingham Forest are now aiming to sign a player Karanka once called the best in the Championship.
Adam Clayton was one of Karanka’s star men as Middlesbrough finished second behind Burnley two years ago. And, when you consider how highly the one-time Real Madrid coach rates the 29-year-old midfielder, it is no surprise that Clayton has emerged as a transfer target this summer.
“I remember my first game against Huddersfield (in March 2014) and five minutes into the match I asked ‘who is that player with the beard?’. I said that I liked him, and after 10 minutes I knew I wanted to sign him for the following season,” Karanka told Gazette Live in April 2016.
“In the Championship, for me he’s the best. I don’t have any doubt. There are other midfielders who have played in the Premier League, but for me he’s the best.”
The Mirror adds that Middlesbrough are not keen on selling Clayton, which means Karanka might have a challenge getting a deal over the line.
But, if he does make a move to the City Ground, expect the former Leeds United powerhouse to play a key role in Forest’s promotion challenge.
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