Nottingham Forest set to sign £32m star who rejected them last season as he has given Green light after scoring 22 goals last season
Nottingham Forest’s Striker Search Drama: A Look Back and What Comes Next
Nottingham Forest endured a challenging and somewhat frustrating campaign last season in their pursuit of a new striker. The club’s hierarchy, particularly owner Evangelos Marinakis, was adamant about bolstering the attacking department and made several attempts to secure a top-class centre-forward. While the summer transfer window a year ago saw Forest chasing various options, they remained unsuccessful in their efforts—despite making multiple bids and engaging in advanced talks.
One of the notable sagas involved Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah, who was strongly linked with a move to the City Ground. Forest pushed hard to bring the Englishman in, but he eventually chose to join Crystal Palace instead. In hindsight, that snub may have worked out in Forest’s favour, as Nketiah went on to have a relatively underwhelming season at Selhurst Park. His decision may now be viewed as a dodged bullet for the Reds.
Undeterred, Forest reignited their striker search in the January transfer window, again under pressure from Marinakis, who remained eager to bring in a reliable goalscorer. However, the club had to wait until this summer to finally secure a deal. They moved decisively to sign Igor Jesus, a promising forward from Brazilian side Botafogo. Jesus is expected to join Forest once his involvement in the Club World Cup comes to an end, bringing optimism to supporters hoping to see more goals in the upcoming campaign.
One name that loomed large on Forest’s transfer wishlist last summer was Santiago Gimenez. The Mexican striker had attracted attention across Europe following his standout performances with Dutch champions Feyenoord. Forest made repeated efforts to convince him to join their project, with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo reportedly believing at one point that the deal was all but done. Yet, Gimenez turned down Forest on more than one occasion, opting instead to stay at Feyenoord and compete in the Champions League group stage.
That decision paid off in the short term, as Gimenez continued to impress in the first half of the season. His performances eventually earned him a winter move to Italian giants AC Milan in the January window—a switch that surprised many. Ironically, his new club, Milan, would later be knocked out of the Champions League by his former side Feyenoord, with Gimenez himself scoring in the encounter. The moment added a layer of poetic drama to what was already a whirlwind season for the striker.
Now, however, it appears that Gimenez’s stint at the San Siro may be coming to an early end. According to Italian outlet Tutto Sport, Milan’s new manager Max Allegri is reassessing the squad, and Gimenez could be deemed surplus to requirements. Despite a promising start to life in Serie A, the 24-year-old’s form tailed off, ending the campaign with a modest return of six goals and three assists in 19 appearances.
With Milan reportedly looking to offload players to reshape their squad, Gimenez could be available on the market once again. The Italian side paid £32 million for his services just six months ago, and it’s expected they will demand a fee in that region to recoup their investment. This asking price alone could pose a significant barrier to any potential suitors, particularly Nottingham Forest.
Given Forest’s recent acquisition of Igor Jesus, a renewed pursuit of Gimenez seems highly unlikely. While the Reds have qualified for European football and will compete in the UEFA Conference League next season, they are not operating with a Champions League-level budget. Shelling out another substantial fee for a second marquee striker does not align with their current financial strategy, especially with the need to strengthen in other areas as well.
Looking back, there’s a sense that Gimenez’s repeated rejections of a move to Nottingham may now appear less wise in retrospect. Forest, with European football on the horizon and a vibrant squad under Nuno’s guidance, are a club on the rise. Meanwhile, Gimenez finds himself in an uncertain position after just half a season at Milan—possibly facing another move and a lack of continuity in his career.
Only time will tell where Gimenez ends up next. As for Forest, they can finally look ahead with some confidence in their attacking ranks, thanks to the arrival of Igor Jesus and the lessons learned from last season’s transfer turmoil.