Nottingham Forest were ‘hovering over Matt Crooks’ shoulder’ in the summer transfer window, according to The Rotherham Advertiser.
Crooks scored or assisted 13 goals in 33 games from central midfield last season, to lead Rotherham United back to the Championship.
And the 26-year-old’s form led to enquiries from Forest, as reported by The Rotherham Advertiser in early September.
By that point, Nottingham Forest had already recruited Jack Colback and Fouad Bachirou in Crooks’s position.
And the Reds later added Harry Arter and Cafu, suggesting their interest in the Rotherham man could be over for the time being.
Forest have also appointed Chris Hughton as manager since contact was allegedly made with the Millers, although Sabri Lamouchi’s replacement may wish to shake up his squad in future transfer windows.
Leeds-born Crooks began his career at Huddersfield Town, where he was a teammate, briefly, of the Nottingham Forest winger Joe Lolley, before spells at Accrington Stanley, Rangers, Northampton Town and Rotherham.
He has more than 18 months left on his contract at the New York Stadium.
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