Will Nottingham Forest now snub Pantilimon with Roberto lined up?

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Nottingham Forest brought Costel Pantilimon to the Championship on loan from Premier League Watford but he faces an uncertain City Ground future.

After a bright start to his Nottingham Forest career, it seems that Costel Pantilimon’s chances of sealing a permanent switch to the City Ground are decreasing.

The giant Romanian goalkeeper joined Forest on loan from Watford in January and initially made a huge impact. After a run of three successive clean sheets in between the sticks of a side whose Achilles heel had long been the defence, the Mirror (March 22, page 62) reported that Forest were keen to keep Pantilimon beyond the summer.

But the 31-year-old has not featured since conceding a soft goal in the 2-1 win against Ipswich Town in mid-April with Stefanos Kapino, another January arrival who signed on a free from Olympiakos, starting the last three league games.

And Greek publication Sdna.gr is now reporting that Forest are keen to bring in a third new shot-stopper since the turn of the year.

It is understood that the Championship side are keen on the 32-year-old Roberto, who has just been relegated from La Liga with Malaga during a loan spell from Espanyol.

The experienced ‘keeper is known well by Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, having represented Greek giants Olympiakos between 2013 and 2016, and a cut-price deal is possible as his contract at Espanyol expires next summer.

So, with Kapino the current number one and Roberto allegedly on the radar, it is tempting to wonder whether Forest have changed their mind about Pantilimon.