Nottingham Forest are interested in Ajax full-back Nicolas Tagliafico, according to The Daily Mail.Â
The lowdown: Career so far
Signed from Independiente in 2018, Tagliafico has been nothing short of sensational for the Dutch Eredivisie champions since making the switch from South America.
The marauding 29-year-old full-back has directly contributed to 36 goals in 167 outings, lifting five major honours during his time in Holland.
Having previously been unsettled amidst speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona, Forest could now be set to land the Argentina international…
The latest: On the radar
As per The Daily Mail, Forest have ‘registered an interest’ in signing Tagliafico this summer as they look for more deals after Taiwo Awoniyi.
It’s claimed that the 40-cap ace is ‘set to leave’ Ajax in the transfer window despite still having two years remaining on a deal with the Dutch giants (Transfermarkt).
The report states that Steve Cooper is looking for ‘other reinforcements’ in defence and views the man dubbed a ‘superb player’ by football talent scout Jakek Kulig as a potential candidate.
The verdict: Class act
Adding a player of Tagliafico’s calibre to the Forest ranks would be an exceptional capture for the Forest hierarchy, especially after turning their attentions elsewhere following the £5million price tag being placed on the head of Max Lowe by Sheffield United.
The refusal to push to bring Lowe back to the Midlands and the imminent release of Gaetan Bong leaves only Jack Colback as a senior candidate to operate at left wing-back, a position Cooper’s system relied heavily upon during promotion last term.
Last season, Tagliafico scored three times and provided a further three assists in 29 appearances across all competitions, and also boasts elite top-level experience having made 25 UEFA Champions League outings to date.
Valued at £9.9million and fast approaching the final year of a contract in Holland (Transfermarkt), signing Tagliafico would be an affordable venture in terms of asking price and could potentially come down to salary as the board decide whether to match or exceed the Argentine’s current £44,000-a-week deal – a sum considerably higher than Forest’s current top earner Lewis Grabban.
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