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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Sarah Clapson

Nottingham Forest 'scout' £10m-rated defender on international duty as big transfer window looms

Nottingham Forest are said to have scouted Fenerbahce defender Attila Szalai as they prepare for a big transfer window.

It is set to be a summer of change at the City Ground as boss Steve Cooper looks to put a squad in place capable of holding its own in the Premier League. That will mean incomings and outgoings in the coming weeks.

And reports claim the Reds have Hungary international Szalai on their radar. According to Turkish newspaper Takvim, they watched the 24-year-old in action on Saturday as he played the full 90 minutes of a 1-0 Nations League victory over England in Budapest.

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Fulham and Newcastle United are also credited with an interest in the centre-back. Fenerbahce could be prepared to let him leave, if a suitable fee is put forward.

A price tag of 12m to 13m euros (about £10m to £11m) is quoted. But Takvim suggest the Turkish club “will ask for an increase in the price if English clubs officially knock on the door”.

Szalai penned a four-and-a-half-year contract when he joined Fenerbahce from Cypriot outfit Apollon Limassol in a 2.2m euro move in January 2021. A key player in the season just gone, he made 43 appearances and scored one goal.

Joe Worrall, Steve Cook and Scott McKenna formed a formidable back line for Forest as they secured a return to the top-flight. The Reds also have Loic Mbe Soh and Jonathan Panzo as centre-back options, while Tobias Figueiredo will see his deal expire later this month.

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