Nottingham Forest are said to be keen on snapping up James McLean from Stoke City.
Nottingham Forest’s links with James McClean are interesting now, considering the Stoke City winger was one of Martin O’Neill’s fiercest defenders during his time managing the Republic of Ireland.
Forest are said to want to bring in McLean from by The Sun (print edition, page 67, Saturday, January 19, 2019), and a reunion with O’Neill at the City Ground may well appeal to the Stoke winger.
O’Neill and McClean worked together at international level, and the 29-year-old was a big fan of the new Forest boss.
“Gutted to see the gaffer gone.. qualifying for euros beating Germany, last 16 at the euros, beating Italy, within one game of qualifying for world cup being 4th seeds… aye bad record ? thanks for everything gaffer,” he wrote on Instagram, following O’Neill’s departure back in November.
O’Neill is thought to have money to spend following his arrival at Forest, with the club’s owners prepared to back their new manager.
Yohan Benalouane has already arrived at Forest, and it seems that McClean could now follow him to the City Ground.
The £5 million winger (Stoke’s official website) would offer Forest energy and desire out wide, as well as a great deal of Championship experience.
Forest got off to a losing start under O’Neill at the weekend, as they slipped up against Bristol City in his first game in charge.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
