Nottingham Forest plan offer for £26m star who Sunderland have already bid for

Nottingham Forest have made an uneven start to life under Oliver Glasner, with signs of progress mixed with some familiar frustration.

The Reds have collected five points from their first five Premier League matches, and their only victory came in an impressive 2-1 comeback at Aston Villa, while draws against Liverpool and Tottenham offered encouragement.

REUTERS/David Klein

Home defeats to Leeds and Coventry City have kept expectations in check, while Forest also exited the Carabao Cup against Leeds and have yet to score in three league games at the City Ground.

That lack of cutting edge is a concern after the money spent during the summer.

Forest invested around £101 million on six arrivals, with Liam Delap joining from Chelsea for an initial £45m. The Englishman has impressed so far, earning real plaudits for his displays in red and white.

REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Ousmane Diomande strengthened the defence, while Daniel Muñoz reunited with Glasner after their successful spell together at Crystal Palace.

Xaver Schlager and Steven Benda arrived without transfer fees, while Gustavo Sa was signed before returning to Famalicao on loan.

The spending was largely funded by Elliot Anderson’s £116m move to Man City, but the squad was not left without gaps.

Anderson was not directly replaced, while another option on the left side of Glasner’s system would have been useful.

Neco Williams has started the season as the preferred choice there, with Luca Netz remaining in reserve.

REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

That may explain why Forest are already looking towards January.

Nottingham Forest line up £13m Archie Brown bid after Sunderland transfer battle

According to Turkish newspaper Sabah, Forest are preparing an offer worth around £13m for Fenerbahçe defender Archie Brown when the window reopens.

The report claims Brown has been followed by the Reds for close to a year and remains firmly on their recruitment list.

There is a major problem with the proposed price, though.

Fenerbahçe reportedly have no intention of selling the 24-year-old midway through the campaign and would demand roughly £26m before reconsidering that stance.

Brown is contracted until 2028 and his agreement includes the option of another season, giving the Turkish side little reason to accept a discounted January deal.

REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Forest have already tested their resolve once, but Fenerbahçe were said to be looking for £15m at that stage.

Sunderland then entered the race and submitted an offer of their own.

Neither Premier League side managed to secure an agreement before the summer window closed.

Who is Nottingham Forest target Archie Brown?

Brown came through the academy systems at Derby County and West Brom before moving abroad.

He rebuilt his career with Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland, earned a transfer to Gent and then joined Fenerbahçe.

His ability to operate as a left-back or further forward would appear to suit Glasner’s shape. Muñoz provides energy and attacking threat on the right, and Brown could potentially offer similar balance on the opposite side.

Any January deal still looks difficult at the reported prices.

Forest’s planned offer is lower than the one rejected in May and only half of Fenerbahçe’s latest demand, but their continued interest suggests this is more than a passing link.

After a solid but unspectacular start, Brown may be one of the players Forest believe can push Glasner’s rebuild forward.