Report: Nottingham Forest in talks to wrap up €25m deal | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest Transfer Move for Anan Khalaili Gains Pace After Inter Milan Collapse

Nottingham Forest have moved quickly in the market after the collapse of Inter Milan’s deal for Anan Khalaili, with TeamTalk reporting that talks are already under way for the Union Saint-Gilloise wide player.

There is a clear opportunity here for Forest. Inter had appeared to be closing in on the 21-year-old after agreeing a package worth €30 million, £25.7m, made up of an initial €25 million, £21.5m, plus €5 million in add-ons. Khalaili had even completed the club’s internal medical process. But the move was stopped at the mandatory cardiac screening stage in Italy, where the required certification was not granted.

That development has changed the landscape and Forest have reacted. TeamTalk state that an opening bid of €20 million, £17m, has already been rejected by Union SG, who remain hopeful of receiving a figure much nearer to the guaranteed sum Inter had lined up. Negotiations, though, are ongoing, and that is the significant point.

Anan Khalaili profile suits Nottingham Forest needs

Khalaili is understood to appeal strongly because of his flexibility. He is comfortable at left-back, wing-back and in more advanced wide areas, which naturally increases his value to a head coach looking for options across several roles.

Forest are said to view him as someone who can strengthen multiple parts of Oliver Glasner’s squad. In a market where adaptability often dictates recruitment decisions, that sort of profile is attractive. It also explains why several Premier League clubs had tracked him previously, including Aston Villa, Brighton, Everton and Leeds United.

Photo: IMAGO

The player himself has also spoken clearly since the Inter move broke down. “I feel good, I feel healthy, I feel perfect. I am ready to play and to train hard, give my best, 100 per cent,” he said. He added, “I played 99 games in the last two years, and I played almost 90 minutes every game. I feel very good, I feel top!”

Inter Milan setback opens transfer window for Forest

From Forest’s perspective, timing matters. Once Inter were forced to step away, the path opened for another club to test Union SG’s stance. Forest have done exactly that and, as things stand, they appear to be the side pushing hardest.

There is another layer to this story too. TeamTalk report that Inter also made enquiries over Dan Ndoye, but Forest have made their position clear. Ndoye is seen as an important part of Glasner’s plans and the club are not looking to approve an exit this summer.

That creates the framework for what could become a one-in, one-out discussion elsewhere, but not necessarily at the City Ground. Forest’s intention appears straightforward, retain key attackers and add another versatile option who can raise depth and competition.

Our View

As a Nottingham Forest supporter, this is the sort of report that immediately grabs the attention. There is obvious intrigue because Khalaili sounds like the modern multi-function player every squad wants, and Forest supporters have seen enough transfer windows to know that speed in these situations can be crucial.

The first thing that stands out is the player’s own confidence. When someone says, “I feel good, I feel healthy, I feel perfect,” and then follows it with, “I feel very good, I feel top!”, it naturally gives fans encouragement. Of course, any medical side of a transfer has to be handled properly and carefully by the club, but from a football point of view he sounds hungry and ready.

What makes this particularly interesting for Forest is the versatility. If he can genuinely play at left-back, wing-back and higher up the pitch, that gives Glasner tactical freedom across a long season. Supporters always warm to players who can solve more than one problem.

The Dan Ndoye angle is also reassuring. Forest need to avoid weakening one area just to strengthen another. Keeping an “important part of Glasner’s plans” while trying to add Khalaili would feel like smart business rather than a compromise.

The fee is not small, and Union SG clearly know they are in a strong position, so there may still be work to do. But if Forest can land a player who was on the brink of joining Inter for £25.7m, for something around that range or lower, fans would rightly see it as an ambitious move with real upside.