Former Fulham and Middlesbrough goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli held talks with Nottingham Forest before the Championship giants snapped up Ethan Horvath instead, as reported by The Sun (18 July, page 61).
If Brice Samba’s debut season at the City Ground was his This Is It moment, 2020/21 felt more like Room On Fire.
And, if early 2000s indie music isn’t your bag, we’ll spell it out with more clarity – Samba’s second year between the sticks at Forest was nowhere near as impressive as his first. The keeper’s form last term was beset by individual mistakes and some seriously unconvincing performances.
The two-time European champions were desperate to bring in a goalkeeper capable of putting pressure on Samba and shaking him from his slumber.
And they have done just that, landing USA international Horvath on a three-year deal from Club Brugge.
Horvath wasn’t the only experienced shot-stopper on Forest’s radar, however. The Sun reports free agent Bettinelli held talks regarding a move to the banks of the Trent but, for whatever reason, negotiations collapsed.
Will Bettinelli now join Birmingham rather than Forest?
Perhaps Bettinelli, who left Fulham earlier this month and had a hit-and-miss loan spell at Middlesbrough under Neil Warnock, wants to join a club where a starting spot would be guaranteed.
The report adds the 29-year-old could now head to Birmingham City to fill in for the covid-stricken Neil Etheridge.
With Hughton ticking a new goalkeeper off his summer hit-list, Nottingham Forest will now look to reinforce at the other end of the pitch with Watford’s Philip Zinckernagel and Fortuna Sittard playmaker Zian Flemming under consideration.
A bid has also been launched for Dinamo Zagreb striker Sandro Kulenovic.
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