Aston Villa’s financial crisis could prove an opportunity for Championship rivals Nottingham Forest, who need a centre-forward.
With Nottingham Forest crying out for a new number nine this summer, they could do worse than try to take advantage of the financial plight at Aston Villa.
The Villans are in the midst of a meltdown after losing the Championship play-off final to Fulham at Wembley, with Financial Fair Play rules stipulating that they have to raise £40 million sharpish or incur potentially heavy sanctions.
As a result, almost every member of Villa’s first-team squad has been linked with a move away this summer. Even Jack Grealish, the talisman and homegrown hero, is up for sale with Villa slapping a £30 million price-tag on his head, according to the Independent.
So Nottingham Forest fans believe that now is the time to sign a prolific Championship centre-forward who could suddenly turn Aitor Karanka’s side into promotion contenders.
Villa broke a Championship record when they signed Jonathan Kodjia for £15 million from Bristol City two years ago and that seems a world away now. The 28-year-old Ivorian might have netted just one goal last season but that was largely down to problems caused by a broken ankle he suffered before the campaign started.
In the two seasons before that, Kodjia scored a combined 38 goals for Bristol City and Villa and he is exactly the sort of signing Forest need to make if they are to challenge for the top six.
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