Nottingham Forest close on Lorenzo Lucca loan with medical expected | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest are closing in on Italian striker Lorenzo Lucca, who is poised to join on loan at the City Ground. According to Nottingham Post, the 25-year-old, currently at Napoli on loan from Udinese, is due for a medical within 24 hours and the Reds will pay an initial one million euros. Fabrizio Romano claims the agreement will include an option to buy worth up to 40 million euros.

Forest have been short of options up front this month after Arnaud Kalimuendo joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan. The move has left head coach Sean Dyche light at the top end of the pitch.

Brazilian Igor Jesus has led the line in recent games. Chris Wood remains out following knee surgery, while Taiwo Awoniyi’s future is uncertain.

Jesus has suffered a knock ahead of this evening’s clash with Braga, an eight pm kick-off. With Awoniyi omitted from the Europa League squad, Dyche could be without a recognised striker if Jesus does not recover.

Lucca had also been linked with Pisa, Benfica and Al Hilal as well as Forest. He was in Torino’s youth set-up before being released, then made his breakthrough with Palermo in the third tier.

Pisa took him to Serie B, and he later spent loans at Ajax and then Udinese, making his Serie A debut in 2023. Udinese signed him permanently in 2024 before loaning him to Napoli in the summer.

Source: Nottingham Post