Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest

Premier League • England

Nottingham Forest confirm Brice Samba exit; One of two imminent arrivals passes medical

Nottingham Forest, Brice Samba

Brice Samba has completed a permanent transfer to Lens, while Nottingham Forest are closing in on two new arrivals, per reports.

Goalkeeper Samba, 28, etched his name into Forest folklore with his penalty-saving heroics during the play-offs. Samba repelled three penalties in the semi-final shoot-out before going on to keep a clean sheet against Huddersfield in the final.

However, the club’s delay in tabling a contract extension was reported by the Athletic to have irked Samba. What’s more, the terms on offer weren’t to his liking either.

An exit quickly emerged as the likeliest outcome and Steve Cooper wasted little time in signing a suitable replacement. Man Utd’s Dean Henderson arrived on a one-year loan last week.

Now, Nottingham Forest have confirmed Samba has joined Ligue 1 side on a permanent basis.

The Athletic stated a five-year contract was signed, while L’Equipe previously claimed the fee is around £4.3m.

One out, two in?

Regarding arrivals, Forest are moments away from officially confirming their capture of centre-back, Moussa Niakhate.

The Frenchman, 26, has passed a medical according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

Niakhate will arrive from Mainz for an initial fee of £8.6m. Add-ons could ultimately raise the final figure to around £12.9m.

Regarding the next plan on Forest’s agenda, Romano they are now ‘busy with [a] new full-back’.

While the journalist didn’t specify a name, 90min are convinced Forest are edging closer towards a deal to sign Liverpool’s Neco Williams.

Neco Williams of Liverpool

Liverpool have put the Welsh right-back on the market for £15m. 90min reported Forest are confident of wrapping up a deal after seeing a competitive first offer rebuffed.

Cooper has already signed a right-back in the form of Giulian Biancone this summer. However, with Djed Spence looking unlikely to return to the City Ground, Cooper will cover the loss with two new faces.