Aston Villa will loan centre-back Tommy Elphick to Reading, but Championship rivals Nottingham Forest were never in the race for some reason.
It appears that a disappointing 18 months at Aston Villa has not done much for Tommy Elphick’s reputation.
The experienced centre-back has plenty of Championship experience and won the league with Bournemouth as recently as 2015. But there has been an alarming lack of interest in Elphick this month, despite Aston Villa looking to get the 30-year-old off their books.
And fans of Nottingham Forest are understandably wondering why on earth their side did not make a move for a player who could immediately have improved their starting XI.
After all, Reading have conceded seven more goals in the Championship this season than Forest. They have the fifth worst defensive record in the entire division with the likes of Matt Mills (below) and Michael Mancienne the subject of constant scrutiny and criticism.
Yet, there have been no additions to shore up an obvious Achilles heel; one that nearly cost Forest their Championship status last season.
So the news that a proven second tier performer like Elphick is joining a potential relegation rival for nothing certainly raises more questions about Nottingham Forest’s transfer policy.
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