Nottingham Forest told they can sign former Wolves defender for €1m fee

Nottingham Forest can reportedly sign left-sided defender Rúben Vinagre on loan from Sporting Lisbon this season for a €1million fee.

As a former Wolverhampton Wanderers player, the 23-year-old already has 35 Premier League appearances to his name after playing under their former manager Nuno Espírito Santo. Vinagre also played plenty of Wolves' run to the Europa League quarter-finals in 2019/20, featuring for the full 90 minutes of their 1-0 defeat against eventual winners Sevilla.

Having played as a full-back and wing-back more than 40 times apiece in his fledgling career, Vinagre would offer head coach Steve Cooper flexibility of formation throughout the season. Additions on the left-side of defence could be necessary as summer signing Omar Richards is yet to feature during pre-season due to injury, though Forest did recently sign Harry Toffolo from Huddersfield Town.

Portuguese daily sport newspaper O Jogo [via Sport Witness ] have reported over the weekend that the Reds see Vinagre's situation as an 'interesting possibility to complete the deal'. The former Portugal under-21 international is apparently on Forest's "target list", and it would only require a €1m loan fee (£850,000) plus paying the player's full wages to agree a loan.

Fellow top-flight newcomers Fulham, who missed out on signing right-back Neco Williams to the Reds, were also said to be interested earlier this summer but have now not continued negotiations. The capital club are also reportedly interested in another Forest target, Burnley forward Maxwel Cornet.