Nottingham Forest have made contact with Serie A giants Inter Milan but will have to invest £16.5 million to bring Andrea Pinamonti to the Premier League, according to Corriere dello Sport.
After scoring an impressive 13 goals on loan at Empoli last season, Pinamonti would have been forgiven for assuming that he’d at least be given an opportunity to make his mark back home at the San Siro.
That was, of course, until Inter leapt at the chance to bring Romelu Lukaku back to familiar surroundings. And with Edin Dzeko, Lautaro Martinez and Joaquin Correa staying put, it seems the best Pinamonti can hope for is a big-money move away from the Guiseppe Meazza.
Not that he’s likely to be short of options, of course.
Another day, another Nottingham Forest target
According to Corriere dello Sport, big-spending Nottingham Forest have made their interest known.
Pinamonti, a 6ft 1ins centre-forward with a penchant for intelligent first-time finishes from inside the penalty area, is valued by cash-strapped Inter Milan at £16.5 million.
Atalanta are big fans of the Italy U21 international. But La Dea are reportedly unwilling to pay more than £12.5 million as things stand.
And if Nottingham Forest’s recent transfer business is anything go buy – over £70 million spent and 13 new faces through the door – don’t be too surprised if a team who have spent the last 20 years outside of the top-flight end the month snatching an Inter Milan attacker from under the noses of a Champions League regular.
How times change at the City Ground.
Lewis Grabban’s replacement?
Despite a summer of heavy spending, Forest are not exactly brimming with strikers. Record signing Taiwo Awoniyi, Sam Surridge and Lyle Taylor – who spent last season out on loan – are the only options at Steve Cooper’s disposal.
Lewis Grabban, meanwhile, left when his contract expired a couple of weeks ago. So there’s certainly space for Pinamonti.
“He’s a great professional,” says Empoli coach Aurelio Andreazzoli of 23-year-old Pinamonti.
“He isn’t afraid of pressure and always proves himself with his goals. The experience with (Antonio Conte) Conte and the top players at Inter was important for him. Now he can only continue to improve.”
Conte, meanwhile, name-checked Pinamonti when asked in 2021 which player had improved the most under his stewardship at Inter.
“I would like to name Andrea Pinamonti,” said the now-Tottenham boss. “Because he worked with us throughout the season.
“He has grown so much, and he knows it’s not easy to have Lukaku, Lautaro and (Alexis) Sanchez ahead of him. But he has some great characteristics and is an excellent prospect.”
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