Nottingham Forest’s Transfer Plans Disrupted by AC Milan’s Move for Mateta

omidbasir- Nottingham Forest’s ambitious transfer plans have faced a major setback due to unexpected developments involving AC Milan. According to a breaking report from Gianluca Di Marzio, AC Milan has successfully reached a verbal agreement in principle with Crystal Palace regarding the transfer of striker Mateta.

The negotiations reportedly gained momentum overnight, driven by Milan’s CEO, Furlani. The Italian club identified Mateta as a priority target and acted quickly to outmaneuver Forest, who have been strongly linked with the 28-year-old throughout the January transfer window.

While Forest appeared to be favorites to secure Mateta’s services within the Premier League, the prestige of AC Milan and the prospect of Champions League football seem to have shifted the balance in Milan’s favor. This confirmation aligns with earlier comments by journalist Sacha Tavolieri regarding Milan’s potential interest, although the rapid reach of a verbal agreement has taken many by surprise. By achieving this preliminary understanding, Milan has effectively positioned itself ahead of Forest in the race for the French forward’s signature.

Despite the progress in discussions between the two clubs, Di Marzio indicates that there remains uncertainty regarding Mateta’s timeline for joining Milan. Although terms of the transfer fee and contract have been agreed upon, it is unclear whether the deal can be finalized before Monday’s transfer deadline or if this is a strategic maneuver aimed at securing the player for the summer.

Milan is eager to bring in Mateta immediately to strengthen their Serie A campaign, yet the complexities of a deadline-day transfer present challenges. The verbal agreement serves as a safeguard for Milan, ensuring that even if a January transfer cannot be completed, they have reserved the player for June, preventing him from signing with a competing club like Forest in the interim.

The preference remains for a winter transfer. The club’s hierarchy is working diligently to convert this verbal agreement into a formal contract; however, several factors need to align perfectly in the coming hours for Mateta to be officially announced as a Milan player this month.

Two significant hurdles exist between the verbal agreement and a final transfer. Firstly, the report indicates that an outgoing player at Milan is necessary. Mateta’s arrival is contingent on the departure of Christopher Nkunku, who has scored four goals in 16 Serie A matches since joining on loan from Chelsea. Balancing the squad and managing the wage bill necessitate that Milan facilitate an outgoing transfer to accommodate their new target.

Furthermore, Crystal Palace has made it clear that they will not allow Mateta to leave until they secure a replacement. With the transfer window closing quickly, Palace is racing against time to recruit a new striker.

Unless Steve Parrish and the Palace board can finalize a signing within the next 72 hours, they may have to postpone Mateta’s transfer until the summer, keeping him under contract to avoid being left short for the remainder of the Premier League season.

This situation poses a frustrating challenge for Forest, who had pinpointed Mateta as the ideal candidate to lead their attack. They must now decide whether to make a desperate counter-offer to persuade Palace and the player to reconsider or pivot to other targets. With Milan having laid the groundwork and secured a verbal pact, Forest’s chances of acquiring Mateta seem increasingly dim.

For AC Milan, this development is regarded as a significant triumph in the market. Whether Mateta arrives now or in June, they appear to have secured a proven scorer while outmaneuvering a Premier League rival, affirming their bold approach to the transfer strategy.