Nottingham Forest ‘agree’ loan deal with Napoli for Lorenzo Lucca | OneFootball

The Athletic reports that Nottingham Forest have agreed a loan with Napoli for forward Lorenzo Lucca, including an option to buy around €40 million. The 25-year-old is due to fly from Naples on Thursday evening for a medical.

He has been on loan at the Italian champions from Udinese since the summer. The loan between Udinese and Napoli is expected to become permanent in February when an obligation to buy activates, so Napoli hold control over his future.

Lucca has scored twice in 23 appearances this season, playing 595 minutes. He joined Napoli last summer after 14 goals in 36 outings for Udinese and was one of nine arrivals to Antonio Conte’s side, who are third after 21 games.

Forest have been seeking a striker with last season’s top scorer Chris Wood sidelined by a knee injury. The report added that Iran forward Mehdi Taremi topped a four-man shortlist. Relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Jorgen Strand Larsen was also under consideration, and Lucca’s arrival is not expected to alter that stance.

Lucca has won five Italy caps, though he was not selected for the September, October and November internationals. At 6ft 7in, he offers a significant aerial presence, something Forest have lacked.

The team have attempted the most crosses in the league, 532, rank 17th for completion and have scored only five goals from them. Forest will hope Lucca can help improve that.

Source: NY Times