£30m star who rejected Nottingham Forest must know he's made a big mistake, his season gets worse - opinion
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Nottingham Forest searched high and low for a new centre-forward during the summer transfer window.
The pursuit ultimately ended in failure and Nuno Espirito Santo asked Evangelos Marinakis not to panic buy with the window drawing to a close.
Forest thought for a long time they’d got a deal over the line – with a number of players identified for the role by the recruitment team.
Santiago Gimenez looked like being a top target for Forest but he rejected the club for the final time prior to the window closing.
Another player on the shortlist was Omar Marmoush but he chose to stay with Eintracht Frankfurt and is now one of Europe’s top strikers.
Finally, Forest looked to have won the race to sign Eddie Nketiah but he rejected the Reds after a chat with Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace.
Now, the former Arsenal man might just be regretting his summer decision…
Eddie Nketiah struggling after rejecting Nottingham Forest
The links to Nketiah saw the Forest fan base divided over whether or not he’d be a useful addition.
At 25-years-old, Nketiah can’t really be considered young anymore and he’s been unable to hold down a regular place at Arsenal over the years.
The striker would perhaps have been a different type of player to that of Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi but the jury was out.
With Palace fancied to do well before a ball was kicked this season, it was a bit of a shame that he chose the Eagles instead of Forest.
However, Forest dodged a bullet of sorts it would seem.
Nketiah’s only goal this season came against QPR in the Carabao Cup and he’s failed to get among the goals in the Premier League.
Furthermore, he’s not been trusted by Glasner to spearhead the attack and has been forced to get his minutes on the right wing.
Nketiah now nursing hamstring injury
It never rains it pours and now there is another factor for Nketiah to deal with as well as his stuttering form.
He missed the 2-0 defeat to Fulham before the international break after picking up a hamstring injury in training.
It’s not clear how long he will be out for and the break probably comes as a good time for the striker.
Forest must now be wiping the brow that Nketiah chose not to sign for the club.
Had he signed for the Reds he’d have played plenty of football it seems but given that he cost Palace £30 million that would have been a risky piece of business.
Thankfully, Forest chose to stand firm and now the challenge for future windows is to sign a striker who can represent a massive upgrade on Nketiah.
