Nottingham Forest walked away from a deal for former Wolves and Premier League stalwart Romain Saiss when learning that Besiktas wanted £6 million, according to Turkish publication Hurriyet.
With Forest listening to offers for Steve Cook on deadline day, the two-time European champions wanted experience to replace experience. Another battle-scarred, been-there-done-that, body-on-the-line sort of centre-back capable of adapting immediately to life at the City Ground and making an impact both on and off the pitch.
In the end, 33-year-old Felipe joined from Atletico Madrid. A Brazil international, and a league champion in Spain and Portugal, Felipe’s big-game nous could prove integral in the bubbling heat of the relegation cauldron.
Deadline day arrival Felipe was not the only veteran Nottingham Forest considered, however.
The EFL Cup semi-finalists offered £1.7 million for 32-year-old Morocco international Saiss; one of the finest defenders at the Qatar World Cup. When it became clear that Besiktas wanted closer to £6 million, however, Nottingham Forest went all-in on Felipe instead.
The former Porto colossus sets Steve Cooper’s side back just £2 million.
Nottingham Forest land Felipe instead of Romain Saiss
“Romain Saiss is our player,” Besiktas coach Senol Gunes tells Haber Turk. “Saiss is an important player for our team.”
Two more 30-somethings – Jonjo Shelvey and Keylor Navas – also joined Nottingham Forest in the final hours of the window, from Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain respectively. Shelvey offers cover and culture in the centre of the park. Navas, a three-time Champions League-winning Real Madrid icon, will step in during Dean Henderson’s injury absence.
Shelvey will wear the number six shirt. He also reunites with one-time Liverpool youth coach Steve Cooper on the banks of the Trent.
“It’s a pleasure to be here. It caught my eye straight away. I just couldn’t wait to get down here,” Shelvey explains.
“It’s a fantastic football club that has so much history. I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
“I spoke to (Newcastle boss) Eddie Howe and he had such good words to say about Steve Cooper. I previously knew of him from my time at Liverpool, so I knew what a fantastic coach he was, but meeting him for the first time has been a breath of fresh air.
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