Premier League newcomers Nottingham Forest have seen a combined £8.5 million bid for both Alex Moreno and William Carvalho turned down by La Liga outfit Real Betis, as reported by ABC de Sevilla.
Whoever said defensive midfielders can’t put the ’beautiful’ in the Beautiful Game?
Just look at the way William Carvalho sliced through Rayo Vallecano’s defence en route to the Copa del Rey final; Nutmegging an unsuspecting defender before slotting the most composed of finishes into the far corner.
It certainly wasn’t what you’d expect from a 6ft 2ins enforcer who, until that moment, had only ever scored four goals in Real Betis colours. After a difficult couple of years, Carvalho produced his best displays in living memory last term as Manuel Pellegrini’s Los Verdiblancos side secured Europa League qualification while ending a trophy drought that had lasted two decades.
Nottingham Forest want two Real Betis stars
But, with one year left on his contract, Betis may have to sell the 73-time Portugal international below market value.
Not that Nottingham Forest’s £8.5 million offer for Carvalho and Betis team-mate Moreno was ever likely to succeed. According to AS, Forest were willing to pay £4 million for left-back Moreno. An offer Betis allegedly felt showed a ‘lack of respect’.
Assuming that is true, this means Forest would have spent a further £4.5 million for Carvalho.
The former Sporting Lisbon ace, who moved to Spain for around £18 million four years ago, is closing in on a move to France instead. According to Goal, Carvalho is likely to join Lyon with Houssem Aouar – the long-term Arsenal target – moving in the other direction. And thus following in Nabil Fekir’s footsteps.
Nottingham Forest could therefore move onto one of a number of alternative midfield targets. Per The Mail, PSV’s Ibrahim Sangare and Mainz’s German international Anton Stach also have admirers at the City Ground.
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