Nottingham Forest chose to sign £13m man instead of 73-cap veteran

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Nottingham Forest appear to have backed out of the race to sign Real Betis midfielder William Carvalho after luring Orel Mangala to the Premier League from Stuttgart, as reported by ABC de Sevilla. 

It always felt like a case of one or the other. Mangala or Carvalho, rather than Mangala and Carvalho.

And with the former arriving late last week in a £13 million deal from the Bundesliga, one of the driving forces behind Portugal’s 2016 European Championship-winning campaign appears to have seen one potential destination close their borders. 

According to reports, Nottingham Forest made an £8.5 million double-bid for Betis duo Carvalho and Alex Moreno in July. One the Copa del Rey winners had no intention of accepting, especially when you consider that Moreno alone is valued in the region of 20 million euros.

Carvalho, meanwhile, joined Betis from Sporting Lisbon for a cool £18 million.  

And while the 73-time Portugal international has just one year left on his contract, a stellar 2021/22 – arguably his finest campaign in Betis colours – means the La Liga outfit are unlikely to entertain any particularly lowball offers.

Los Verdiblancos are allegedly holding out for around £9 million. 

Nottingham Forest choose Orel Mangala over William Carvalho

ABC de Sevilla state that, after some deliberation, Forest ‘opted for Mangala instead’. The Belgian is six years Carvalho’s junior, and therefore represents a better fit for CEO Dane Murphy’s transfer policy; One that tends to revolve around exciting, hungry young talent boasting substantial re-sale value. 

Of Nottingham Forest’s 13 summer signings, only two are over 26. Marquee addition Jesse Lingard is one, back-up goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey the other. 

So where next for Carvalho?

Well, Lyon and ambitious Serie A newcomers Monza remain in contention. Carvalho’s proposed move to France appears to rest on whether a deal can be agreed to see Houssem Aouar move in the other direction. 

Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, are now looking into the likes of PSG youngster Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe and Mangala’s former Stuttgart team-mate Omar Marmoush.