Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest

Premier League • England

Nottingham Forest make centre-back loan approach as search returns closer to home

Michael-Keane-Joe-Garner Everton Fleetwood August 2022

Nottingham Forest are frantically looking for a defender and have reportedly made an approach to Everton to sign Michael Keane.

Forest boss Steve Cooper has given his Premier League squad a major overhaul in the summer. In fact 16 new players have arrived at the City Ground and with less than a week to go before the end of the transfer window, more players are expected.

Cooper is looking for cover in the full-back positions after the injury to Omar Richards. Richards, a left-back from Bayern Munich, sustained a hairline fracture of the leg in pre-season and faces a significant spell out.

Serge Aurier is understood to have held talks over returning to the Premier League.

But Forest also want more cover at centre-back after Moussa Niakhate picked up an injury against West Ham. Niakhate also missed the draw with Everton and Cooper does not want to rely on the likes of 31-year-old Steve Cook.

Forest have been unsuccessful with a move for Wolves centre-back Willy Boly. While they are also keen on a deal for Tottenham’s Japhet Tanganga.

But with no movement in those deals, Football Insider report that Forest have made a loan enquiry for Keane.

The former Manchester United centre-back has not featured so far this season. After making 38 appearances in all competitions last season the 29-year-old has been resigned to the bench.

He did get a run-out in the EFL Cup in midweek but Frank Lampard has preferred a combination of Conor Coady, James Tarkowski, Mason Holgate, Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina in his back three.

West Ham interest in Keane

Godfrey is facing a spell out after fracturing his leg against Chelsea, but Lampard does have options.

Keane did pen a new new five-year contract with Everton in August 2020, committing his future until 2025.

But he has fallen out of favour with Frank Lampard this season and may well fancy a move to secure first-team football.

But Everton rejected West Ham’s efforts to land the player earlier this month.

The Sun reported David Moyes was keen on a loan move, but the Toffees knocked back the enquiry. Now though with Keane sitting on the sidelines the situation may well have changed at Goodison Park.

Keane will want to be playing as he turns 30 in January and may well insist on a transfer away. He would add some much-needed Premier League knowhow to a Forest defence, who have conceded three goals in three Premier League games.