Nottingham Forest ‘ready’ to make £6m transfer offer for defender

Nottingham Forest Eye Move for Empoli’s Saba Goglichidze as Centre-Back Reinforcements Sought

Nottingham Forest have reportedly set their sights on Empoli defender Saba Goglichidze, as the club looks to kick-start their summer recruitment drive. With the transfer window gradually gathering momentum, the Reds are expected to become more active in the coming weeks after a subdued start.

 

Although no official signings have been confirmed yet, several potential deals are quietly progressing behind the scenes at the City Ground. Now, the name of 21-year-old Goglichidze has emerged as a serious option as Forest aim to strengthen their defensive line ahead of a challenging 2025/26 campaign, which includes the added burden of European competition.

 

According to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, Forest have a “strong interest” in the young Georgian international and are “ready to offer” a fee in the region of €8 million (£6.8 million) to secure his signature. The versatile centre-back, who joined Empoli from Torpedo Kutaisi in early 2024, impressed with a string of composed performances last season despite his side’s eventual relegation from Serie A.

 

However, Forest are not the only club monitoring his situation. Serie A rivals Parma and Udinese are also believed to be admirers of Goglichidze, with the latter actively searching for a replacement for Jaka Bijol, who recently completed a move to Leeds United. That said, Empoli’s reported €10 million (£8.5 million) valuation of the player is said to have put off Udinese, branding the asking price “excessive” — a development that could leave the door open for Forest to step in with a firm bid.

 

This isn’t the first time Goglichidze has attracted high-profile interest. Roma were close to signing him in the January window, while Juventus and AC Milan have also previously expressed admiration for the Georgian’s potential. With his stock rising quickly, Forest are hoping to move decisively before rival suitors reignite their pursuit.

 

Forest boss Nuno Espírito Santo is well aware of the need to strengthen his squad across the board, particularly in central defence. Last season, the pairing of Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic became the go-to combination at the back, but the added pressure of European football means more depth will be required if Forest are to remain competitive on all fronts.

 

Veteran defender Willy Boly has recently committed his future to the club, signing a contract extension through to 2026. Meanwhile, Morato adds further options in the heart of defence. The club is also evaluating the readiness of Tyler Bindon and David Carmo, both of whom are returning from loan spells, to see whether they can contribute at senior level next term.

 

Goglichidze’s arrival would signal a continued shift towards youth and potential — something that has defined Forest’s transfer approach in recent windows. The club is also pursuing Jair Cunha, the highly-rated Botafogo centre-back, as part of an ambitious plan to bolster their backline. Jair’s teammate Igor Jesus has already confirmed his move to Nottingham is on the cards after the Club World Cup, and while a triple swoop that includes left-back Cuiabano was initially in the works, uncertainty remains about whether the other two Brazilians will follow suit.

 

Forest’s intent is clear: with a return to Europe on the horizon and Premier League survival no longer the sole objective, recruitment this summer is about building a squad capable of competing across multiple fronts. Adding a composed, ball-playing centre-back like Saba Goglichidze — who brings both potential and top-flight experience — would be a statement move in that direction.