Nottingham Forest are looking to sign Tom Holmes from Championship rivals Reading with just one year remaining on the defender’s contract, as reported by Berkshire Live.
For the second time in the space of 24 hours, Nottingham Forest have been tipped to raid the Madejski Stadium for a player who would become a free agent in 11 months’ time.
On Monday, The Athletic claimed the two-time European champions had made a seven-figure bid for Josh Laurent, albeit without meeting Reading’s asking price for the swashbuckling central midfielder.
An offer could soon be on the way for Holmes too, with reports coming out of Berkshire suggesting Nottingham Forest are one of many clubs keeping tabs on the highly rated defender.
Will Tom Holmes quit Reading for Nottingham Forest?
Alongside fellow youngsters Tom McIntyre and Michael Olise, London-born Holmes was one of the key cogs in a Reading side that flirted with the play-offs last season before falling at the final hurdle.
Holmes had only played one league game before 2020/21 but quickly left his doubters chowing down on a hearty slice of humble pie.
His aerial presence and composure in possession quickly made him a regular feature in Veljko Paunovic’s starting XI.
Holmes also featured regularly at right-back – and that versatility appeals to Nottingham Forest, who look short of options on the flanks only days before their Championship opener against Coventry City.
Carl Jenkinson doesn’t appear to have a future under Chris Hughton while Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel, a graduate of the feted Nigel Doughty Academy, could be sold to Sunderland before the end of August.
It isn’t certain how much Reading want for Holmes.
But, having failed to extend a contract that runs out in summer 2022, Forest will hope a cut-price deal can be agreed.
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