Lyon will sign Nicolas Tagliafico for £3.5 million after the Ajax defender turned down a move to Premier League newcomers Nottingham Forest, as reported by De Telegraaf.
So far this summer, Steve Cooper’s play-off winners have already snapped up a £17 million centre-forward, a commanding, left-footed central defender, a promising young right-back and one of the most naturally talented goalkeepers in English football.
Neco Williams is now in talks to join from Liverpool in a £16 million deal (Sky Sports). Forest are also holding negotiations with Lille playmaker Yusuf Yazici.
If Forest are to turn a B+ into an A, however, further reinforcements are still required. Specifically, at left-back.
Nicolas Tagliafico turns down Nottingham Forest for Lyon
The departures of Gaetan Bong and Max Lowe leave Forest with a worrying lack of options on the left-hand side. What’s more, Argentine international Tagliafico reportedly spurned their advances before agreeing a cut-price £3.5 million move to Ligue 1 giants Lyon.
The diminutive, all-action Tagliafico moves to France after missing out on a January switch to Barcelona. He has just one year left on his contract at the Johan Cruyff Arena. Lyon – coached by former Ajax coach Peter Bosz – turned their attention to the 29-year-old after being quoted a prohibitive £18 million for Villarreal’s Pervis Estupinan.
Fortunately, while the Tagliafico deal looks dead in the water, Nottingham Forest are making progress in their pursuit of another left-back target.
Talks are underway with Bayern Munich for Omar Richards (The Telegraph). The London-born former England U21 international could cost £8.5 million. He leaves the Bundesliga champions just one year after arriving in a shock deal from Championship outfit Reading.
”He’s making a decent impression,” Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said last year, before adding that 24-year-old Richards still had a lot to learn.
“In England, he had less combination play. At the moment, he still takes a bit too much risk in some situations. That’s the only problem. He’s got good dribbling and finishing (skills).”
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