Stadio Atleti Azzurri, Bergamo, Italy - August 21, 2022, Atalanta's Ruslan Malinovskyi celebrates scoring.
Nottingham Forest may have been handed a second chance at signing Atalanta midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi, according to reports.
The Lowdown: Summer offer made
The Ukrainian has now entered the final 12 months of his deal with the Serie A side, leaving his future in Italy very much up in the air.
The Reds had placed an offer for the 29-year-old earlier in the summer, though a switch to the City Ground failed to materialise before the deadline.
Following a fresh update though, the Midlands outfit might now have been gifted the perfect opportunity to bring their target to the Premier League…
The Latest: Second time lucky?
According to Italian outlet Calcio Mercato (via Sport Witness), Malinovskyi has been experiencing a ‘tense relationship’ with Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini, with a January move for Forest ‘on the table’ if nothing improves.
It’s stated that the Reds ‘tried the coup’ to secure his services previously, but ended their pursuit after discovering that the Italian giants were asking for €50m (£43.4m).
Whilst it’s unknown how much the Reds bid, there is now a ‘second chance’ to land him, with an exit ‘not ruled out’ and his contract ticking down.
The Verdict: Don’t do it?
Steve Cooper already has plenty of midfield options at his disposal with the arrivals of the likes of Lewis O’Brien and Cheikhou Kouyate, so there’s no need to add to his ranks any further.
Malinovskyi, dubbed a ‘weapon’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, could be available for a cut-price deal if Atalanta become determined to get rid, but for now they seem to be standing pretty firm in their valuation.
Malinovskyi at Forest?
Yes
No
A fee anything close to £40m is not one that Forest should consider paying for a player who wouldn’t even be a guaranteed starter, so this is a deal that, for now, would be best to avoid pursuing.
About the Author
