Nottingham Forest look set to miss out on Brazilian defender Nino as he nears a move to Zenit St Petersburg. The Reds had looked to win the race to sign the uncompromising player but now Russia looks like his likely destination.
This month, the Reds will be searching for a new center defender. In the aftermath of their thrilling 3-1 victory against Newcastle on Boxing Day, Forest overcame Manchester United on Saturday.
Nino and Forest have been connected for a very long time. It was rumored that he intended to continue with Fluminense as they attempted to win the Club World Cup last month, despite reports that a £6 million deal was almost agreed upon.
Forest to miss out on Nino transfer
The Reds are now likely to miss the boat on this one, claims Fabricio Romano. Nino declined the opportunity to join Forest and appears to be headed to Zenit.
Nino joined with his present team in 2020 after leaving Criciuma. The Forest-connected Nino was called up to the Brazil squad a few months back, and he has since made 239 appearances for the Brazilian team.
Nino appears to be moving to Russia, despite Forest’s hopes to sign him for almost £6 million. It was originally reported that he would have preferred a transfer to a prominent European league over joining the Russian team.
Forest could do with a new central defender
Moussa Niakhate and Willy Boly will be absent for a long for the Reds. Both Forest defenders are leaving to play for their respective nations in the upcoming African Cup of Nations, which is expected to take center stage.
Scott McKenna may sign with Celtic, while Joe Worrall has been linked to West Ham. Moreover, rumors have emerged that Forest could permit Andrew Omobamidele to go on loan this month.
With Nino being a sensible signing, Forest now has two choices to choose from: Felipe and Murillo. Felipe in particular has had difficulty staying healthy, and the Reds don’t have many options.
This one appears to be a non-starter now. With his recent success in the Copa Libertadores, Nino’s arrangement to join with Zenit and bypass Forest looks close to completion.
