As recently as a fortnight ago, Jack Colback was the closest thing Nottingham Forest had to a left-back.
And though the experienced midfielder performed dutifully during a remarkable end to last season – as Forest secured their place in the Premier League after two decades away – the prospect of Colback going up against the likes of Mo Salah, Riyad Mahrez and Jadon Sancho would have been enough to check even Steve Cooper’s usually self-assured demeanour.
It’s a credit to the City Ground’s recruitment team, then, that Nottingham Forest now have not one but two quality options on the left-hand side.
Omar Richards joins in an £8.5 million deal from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. And, yes, Neco Williams is be more comfortable on the right. But his natural two-footedness has come in handy for the Welsh national team on many an occasion.
Fellow new recruit Moussa Niakhate has plenty of experience as a left-sided full-back too. The seemingly inevitable arrival of Harry Toffolo from Huddersfield Town will complete an extensive overhaul of a position that has given plenty of Forest bosses more headaches than an over-worked, under-slept father forced to spend his Saturday at a rowdy 6-year-old’s birthday party.
Nottingham Forest close in on Harry Toffolo while Ian Maatsen heads to Burnley
According to The Athletic, Nottingham Forest have launched a bid for Toffolo, as well as his Huddersfield team-mate Lewis O’Brien.
And adding Ian Maatsen to Tofollo, Richards, Williams and Niakhate would be overkill. One left-back too many. Like one of those frazzled Masterchef contestants who chucks every ingredient into the pot and serves up a confused mess of flavours.
Dutch publication 1908 reported on Wednesday that Chelsea starlet Ian Maatsen was another name on Forest’s radar. Burnley too. After a terrific loan spell at Coventry City – the 20-year-old scored a screamer against champions Fulham and was labelled ‘exceptional’ by Sky Blues team-mate Simon Moore – Maatsen is determined to continue his progress on UK soil. So much so that he’s given a potential return to Feyenoord the cold shoulder.
And, shortly after those reports emerged from the Netherlands, Burnley reached an agreement with Chelsea to bring Maatsen back to the Championship. That is according to the ever-reliable Athletic.
Now, Nottingham Forest are well down the line regarding Toffolo, with Richards already on board. We can only assume Maatsen is a back-up option at the City Ground. One to consider if their top targets slipped through Cooper’s fingers.
But with Forest’s Plan A delivering the required results, Plan B is no longer required.
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