Nottingham Forest have been handed a potential striker boost with Bologna coach Thiago Motta confirming that the Premier League linked Sydney van Hooijdonk is free to leave.
If the son of former Nottingham Forest frontman Pierre van Hooijdonk didn’t take the hint after being left out of Bologna’s pre-season tour, then Motta was keen to spell out the situation facing a striker who remains with the Rossoblu despite falling out of favour long ago.
According to The Athletic, Forest sent scouts to watch Sydney van Hooijdonk on loan at Heerenveen last term. An instinctive penalty-box poacher, the 23-year-old targetman scored 19 goals in all competitions.
And should Steve Cooper’s side step up their interest over the next three weeks, Motta will certainly not stand in his way.
Nottingham Forest need more goals
“He has to find another situation for himself,” the former Barcelona and Inter Milan playmaker tells Tuttomercatoweb.
“I’m happy with how he trains. He always gives his best. But that doesn’t alter the fact that he has to go and play continuously, even if he’ll be available tomorrow (for the Coppa Italia first round).”
Nottingham Forest’s striker options remain worryingly light ahead of Saturday’s Premier League opener vs Arsenal. Taiwo Awoniyi enjoyed an outstanding end to his debut season at the City Ground but Chris Wood – Cooper’s only other natural centre-forward – has just nine goals in his last 67 games.
Anthony Elanga, Emmanuel Dennis and Brennan Johnson, meanwhile, are more comfortable out wide.
“We need more players, to be honest,” Cooper told the Nottingham Post last week.
“Like every other manager and team, we want to strengthen all areas. We do want to improve. And hopefully, before the new season starts, we will have new players coming in and probably some leaving as well.
“We have to respect the league. One of the biggest lessons last year was that step up from the Championship. When you actually make that jump, you realise that there is little if any room for error.
“(More signings) will be at the forefront of our mind. But after having that year and experiencing the good, bad and indifferent, that will serve us well going forwards.”
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