That ill-fated 2017 move to Nottingham Forest has done nothing for Zach Clough’s reputation amid links with Hibernian and Aberdeen.
Just 17 months ago, Nottingham Forest signed Zach Clough for £3 million. Now, it seems that Forest cannot wait to farm the 23-year-old out on loan.
The East Midland giants looked to have pulled off an impressive coup when they landed the gifted attacker a year-and-a-half ago. Clough shone at Bolton Wanderers with his vision, quick feet and dazzling potential but the Messi of the Macron failed to fire at the City Ground.
He has barely played since Aitor Karanka replaced Mark Warburton as Nottingham Forest manager at the start of 2018, failing to feature in even a minute of the club’s first three Championship appearances of the new season.
And now it seems that fans of Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen are giving him the wide berth amid reports in the Scottish Sun saying that they are interested in signing Clough on loan.
The likelihood is that Aberdeen see Clough as a direct replacement for Ryan Christie, the skilful attacker who scored eight goals and assisted a further 15 in all competitions last season.
The Dons face competition from a Hibernian side who have lost John McGinn, Dylan McGeouch and Scott Allan this summer. Interestingly, Hibs boss Neil Lennon managed Clough at Bolton.
But the fact that he doesn’t exactly seem welcome at Pittodrie shows how much that ill-fated move to Forest has damaged Clough’s reputation.
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