Nottingham Forest transfer plan as striker linked with City Ground return

Nottingham Forest want to keep the core of their promotion-winning “band of brothers” together for their return to the Premier League.

And CEO Dane Murphy says that includes trying to retain the services of at least some of the five loanees who became key members of Steve Cooper’s squad. Djed Spence (Middlesbrough), James Garner (Manchester United), Philip Zinckernagel (Watford), Max Lowe (Sheffield United) and Keinan Davis (Aston Villa) all played crucial roles in helping the Reds return to the top-flight.

Forest had drawn up two transfer plans for this summer, for either another season in the Championship or for making the step up. Murphy says, with the foundations already in place, the priority for the window will be cementing the group, followed by strengthening with further additions.

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg does "not blame" referee Jon Moss for not awarding penalties against Nottingham Forest during the Championship play-off final against Huddersfield Town.

The Reds ' opponents felt hard done to not be awarded a penalty late on at Wembley Stadium when both Harry Toffolo and Lewis O’Brien fell to the floor inside the 18-yard box ten minutes apart without receiving a decision. Toffolo instead received a yellow card after being adjudged to have dived with Jack Colback in attendance, while the O'Brien incident involving Max Lowe was ignored.

Video assistant referee Paul Tierney also did not overrule the on-field referee for either decision. Clattenburg believes that the second shout "did not look good" but stopped short of blaming the VAR official.

Nottingham Forest reportedly "fancy their chances" of re-signing academy graduate Ben Brereton Diaz from Blackburn Rovers this summer.

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