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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Matt Davies

Chelsea and Leeds United transfers could be perfect solution for Nottingham Forest attack

Nottingham Forest have been linked with a move for Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi this summer but they face intense competition for his signature.

The Reds are reportedly ready to bid around £15million for the England international, who suffered a disappointing season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen last term. However, given the 22-year-old's potential, other clubs are interested, most notably Fulham and AC Milan.

Forest will hope Steve Cooper's past relationship with Hudson-Odoi in the England Under-17s set-up helps their cause. They do need to be mindful of FFP after their heavy spending of last summer and one way to mitigate that could be selling Emmanuel Dennis, who has been linked with Leeds United.

READ MORE: Nottingham Forest confirm Man Utd and Leeds transfers in new academy signings

READ MORE: Nottingham Forest news and transfers LIVE: Goalkeeper blow, Hudson-Odoi update, Dennis latest

Host Matt Davies and regular guest Michael Temple discussed the two potential deals on the latest Garibaldi Red podcast.

What do we make of Hudson-Odoi as a possible signing?

MT: "He broke through very young. I think he made his England debut at 18, Bayern Munich were interested and he got a five-year deal at Chelsea.

"He's rumoured to be on £120,000 a week so he'd be one of, if not the, top earner at Forest. He's got a year left at Chelsea and clearly isn't in their plans. The challenge is that his agent is letting the media know he's available to get a bidding war on personal terms going.

"I think he'll move on. It looks like Fulham are our biggest competition in this country. If that fee of £15m is accurate he'd be exceptional value."

MD: "I like him as a signing. There's a few worries. He's never put up amazing numbers in terms of goals or assists, even when he was playing regularly at Chelsea.

"He's had a pretty lean spell, but he's only 22 and is very talented. Cooper and his staff could get more out of him. You have to work out where he fits in to the attack. Would he start straight away?

"We saw how much of a squad game it is last season."

MT: "He played at right wing-back under Tuchel too. He could be a very attack minded wing-back! That might be a factor. An English qualified player who can play different positions and has a relationship with the manager is a good thing."

Can Forest win the race to get him?

MT: "The Cooper relationship helps him settle but it's finance that gets it done. He's got too much competition at Chelsea and they're having that fire sale.

"Our wage structure has to rise if we're going to be a mid-table Premier League team. If he's going to cost £120,000 a week or more then you'd want him to be playing regularly.

"He needs to be at this stage of his career. There's more sense and longevity in signing a player like him than a Jesse Lingard. He's still someone you can sell on for a profit if that's how we're going to work in the transfer market.

"Cooper could be a big factor but the finance will be what gets it done."

Does Dennis to Leeds make sense?

MT: "It sounds like one that makes sense. He can be a 15 to 20 goal man there and run very directly at full-backs.

"It's not quite worked for him at Forest. I think he's an impact man of the bench still. You saw him come on at Fulham and do well.

"He's one player we can move on for good money given his CV and age. If Leeds want to bounce back straight away you can see why he's a good fit. They've got good players he can be a makeweight for.

"We've spoken about Tyler Adams before. They also have Willy Gnonto. There's two or three there. If we can get £10m to £15m to reinvest in the squad then it's a good move."

MD: "Leeds will have money to burn still. Just because you get relegated doesn't mean you're skint. Look at Leicester and the quality of player they're bringing in.

"They have good players Forest can look at like Adams and Gnonto. Gnonto is 19 and a full Italy international so he's the kind of player to look at, especially as he's reportedly valued at £15m.

"If Dennis is still here next season I don't mind that at all. He's a good option off the bench when you're chasing a game. He's done okay when he's started but you don't know what you'll get from him and you're not sure if he knows what he'll do."

MT: "He needs some love and he needs a run in a team. I don't think he's going to get that at Forest but neither is someone you'd force out the door.

"He's not been a disastrous signing but needs a big uptick in form to be a starter."

MD: "There's a bit of a disconnect between him and the other players in terms of the pattern of play. I'm not sure he fits the structure of play sadly."

Should Forest sign Hudson-Odoi? Have your say in the comments section below

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