Nottingham Forest want £7m Inter Milan target who could replace Garner

Follow us on Google Discover

Premier League duo Nottingham Forest and Brentford are looking at Guilio Maggiore after an impressive Serie A season with Spezia, as reported by Gianluca di Marzio. 

There really is no place like home.

Maggiore appeared to be living the dream when he joined seven-time European champions a decade ago. Joining the youth ranks of one of Italy’s biggest and most historic footballing institutions. Just two months later, however, he was back where it all began. 

“I wasn’t happy in myself,” Maggiore told Goal in February, explaining why his Rossoneri spell ended after just eight short weeks.

“Thinking about it now, I can say that I just wasn’t able to get myself right. Maybe the injuries were a result of the fact that, mentally, I wasn’t focused. So, after two months, I returned home and I went straight back to Spezia.” 

But, even AC Milan secured their first Serie A title in a decade under Stefano Pioli, Maggiore does not sound like a man wishing he could turn back the clock.

The youngest captain in the Italian top flight at the age of 24, this most cultured and composed of midfield generals continued to go from strength to strength at Spezia. And, if Maggiore bids farewell for a second time, the Liguria-born playmaker can ride off into the sunset with his head held high. 

Nottingham Forest like Spezia’s Guilio Maggiore

According to Di Marzio, Brentford and Nottingham Forest have made enquiries after Maggiore helped Spezia stave off the threat of relegation once again in 2022/23. 

“Two years in Serie A have helped me. I have improved my knowledge, both on and off the pitch,” says Maggiore, belatedly living up to the potential that once saw the former Italy U21 international dubbed one of the most exciting young talents in the country. 

“(My idol) is Steven Gerrard, who fascinated me in every way.”

 Per Gazzetta dello Sport, Maggiore has been linked with both Inter Milan and Jose Mourinho’s Roma during 2021/22. And, with just one year left on his contract, Spezia could accept offers in the region of £7 million. 

A stylish and extremely technical player who loves to cut in from the left onto his favoured right-foot, Maggiore could potentially replace Manchester United loanee James Garner at Forest.