Report: Nottingham Forest could rekindle interest in two-time Premier League winner
01/28/2025 04:35 AM
Nottingham Forest are working hard behind the scenes to try and get a player or two over the line before the deadline next Monday.
Evangelos Marinakis wants to sign a new forward. The Reds are somewhat short of options in the final third and it would be ideal if a reinforcement could be sought.
Matheus Cunha has been linked with Forest. The Wolves player is stalling over a new contract and with 10 goals in the Premier League this season, he’s a wanted man before the window slams shut.
Other players have been linked with the club too. Marcus Edwards is on the radar of Forest and he’s recently changed his agent in preparation for a January switch from Sporting CP.
Now, a new name has come forward for Forest. It’s a player who supporters will know well with the player almost signing for the club last season after visiting the training ground.
Nottingham Forest rival Everton for Premier League winner Willian
According to the Daily Mail, Willian is being offered to clubs for free. He recently departed Olympiacos after his short-term deal with the Greek giants expired in January.
He didn’t enjoy the best spell with the Evangelos Marinakis-owned team. The winger made just 11 appearances and claimed one assist during his six months at the football club.
The 35-year-old is an experienced Premier League campaigner, however. He’s made 317 outings in England across spells with Chelsea, Arsenal and Fulham, scoring 47 goals and claiming 46 assists.
Furthermore, Willian has won the Premier League twice – both times with Chelsea – and he would bring valuable experience to any team he joins in January.
Tom Cairney raves about Willian
The Nottingham-born Premier League player spent time playing in the same team as Willian at Fulham and he raved about him when Forest played Wolves earlier in the season.
He was asked who the best player he’d played with was and had no hesitation with his answer on Monday Night Football.
Cairney said: “Willian, it’s not even close. His football intelligence is out of this world. In my opinion, he does not receive the recognition he deserves in the Premier League.
“For four or five years he was one of the league’s best players, but with Eden Hazard in the same team, much of the spotlight fell on him – rightly so.
“Willian was something special.”
Given that Willian has recently departed Olympiacos, it might seem far-fetched for Forest to sign him given that it would be an easy deal to do and might have been completed already.
However, the player is a free agent. As a result, perhaps Forest view him as a fall back option should the main targets not come to fruition this month.
