Report: Nottingham Forest now rival Newcastle United for Champions League star who will cost £8.4m
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Nottingham Forest are going well in the Premier League and the January transfer window will be open next month.
The Reds opted for quality over quantity in the summer with 11 new players signing and two of them joining Olympiacos on loan.
It’s been a flying start to the season for the Reds who have won games away at Liverpool and Manchester United so far during 2024/25.
Gary Lineker has already changed his mind about Forest, while other pundits are starting to dish out more praise than usual for Forest.
Nuno Espirito Santo has been hailed by Jamie Redknapp this season and shortly attentions will turn to a January transfer window, with Forest likely to do some business.
Nottingham Forest rival Newcastle for Real Madrid defender
Yes, you read that right, Forest are keen on signing a Real Madrid defender during the January transfer window.
According to reports in Spain, the Reds are one of the clubs being linked with Raul Asencio ahead of the window reopening.
The 21-year-old has already featured for the first team at the Bernabeu, making seven appearances for Real Madrid this season.
Asencio has been a regular with the Castilla development squad but has performed well enough to catch Carlo Ancelotti’s eye.
The centre-back recently played the full 90 minutes against Liverpool in the Champions League and looks a hot prospect.
Forest won’t be alone in the chase to sign him, however, with Newcastle also keen on bringing him to the Premier League.
Asencio fits the Forest profile
Forest have been linked with Victor Lindelof from Manchester United but this transfer would make more sense.
Asencio is only 21 and that sees him meet the profile of a player that the recruitment team have been targeting recently.
The player might fancy a move to another of Europe’s big leagues in January, with Real Madrid appearing willing to let him leave.
Forest might not be able to hand him too much game time at the moment though.
Alan Shearer has raved about Nikola Milenkovic who has been solid alongside Murillo at centre-back this season.
However, there is only really Morato in reserve, with Willy Boly likely to leave next summer and Andrew Omobamidele still extremely raw.
Forest will have some work to do in order to sign Asencio but this does feel a better link than the previous one to United star Lindelof.
