Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of free agent Jesse Lingard.
The attacking midfielder is said to have penned a one-year deal to become the Reds’ 11th new addition of the summer. He joins ex-Manchester United teammate Dean Henderson in making the move to the City Ground, with the goalkeeper having already made the switch on loan.
Announcing Lingard’s arrival, Forest said: “Everyone at Nottingham Forest is delighted to welcome Jesse to the club and we look forward to seeing him pull on the Garibaldi shirt at the World Famous City Ground.”
The England international could make his debut in the Garibaldi on Saturday, when Steve Cooper’s side travel to face Union Berlin for the fifth friendly of the summer. They have little more than two weeks to go before their opening Premier League fixture, at Newcastle United on August 6.
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Cooper's plan
Head coach Steve Cooper says there has been a clear strategy behind putting Nottingham Forest’s transfer “jigsaw puzzle” together.
The Reds have had a busy summer window as they prepare to make the step up to the Premier League, and they are not finished yet. Ten new signings have come through the door so far - albeit one, Brandon Aguilera, has immediately gone out on loan.
Further arrivals are still being targeted, while other players will add to the list of those to have already departed. Cooper has been very clear, however, on the club’s approach to their transfer business.
“There’s loads of good players that are available or you can buy or you get offered to you,” he told NottinghamshireLive after his team’s 3-1 friendly win over Hertha Berlin. “But it’s not just that. Obviously we want good players, but we want good players who fit our way of playing, fit our culture and fit our atmosphere.
Injury setback
Aston Villa striker Keinan Davis has suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury amid talk of a return to Nottingham Forest.
The 24-year-old is currently in Australia with Steven Gerrard’s side. But he has been ruled out of the final match of their pre-season tour, against Manchester United on Saturday.
Davis was absent for the Reds’ Championship run-in due to a hamstring problem, having been forced off in the 1-0 defeat at Luton Town in April. He returned for the play-offs, coming off the bench in both legs of the semi-final against Sheffield United, before starting the 1-0 win over Huddersfield Town at Wembley.
In Australia, he has been unable to train with the first-team group, instead conducting rehab work with Villa’s physios and fitness coaches. It is expected he will make a full return to fitness ahead of the club’s friendly with Stade Rennais on July 30.
Exit likely
Nottingham Forest defender Nicholas Ioannou is said to be closing on a return to Italy.
The 26-year-old spent last season on loan at Como 1907, and the Italian outfit are reportedly ready to take him on a permanent deal. It comes after the Reds signed left-back Harry Toffolo from Huddersfield Town on Wednesday, along with midfield teammate Lewis O’Brien, to take their total number of additions so far this summer up to 10.
According to Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web, an agreement is “close” between Forest and Como for Ioannou’s move, with confirmation “expected in the coming days”. The Reds are said to be “ready to hand over” Ioannou, having strengthened in that area of the pitch.
As well as Toffolo, Omar Richards has put pen to paper for Steve Cooper’s squad. But the former Bayern Munich man is facing a spell on the sidelines having suffered a hairline fracture of the leg.
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