The £21m genius Nottingham Forest transfer that could become bargain of the summer window

Nottingham Forest’s pursuit of Champions League football is not over yet but they will need those above them to drop points if they’re to be in with a chance in these final two games.

Dropping points in their last three games has not been kind to their grip on the top five. However, they are guaranteed European football of some form next season, thanks to their overall valiant efforts in the Premier League.

After fighting back-to-back relegation battles since their promotion, Forest have stunned the world with their high-flying campaign. Regardless of which European division they will be competing in, the Reds have done enough to earn themselves a strong summer transfer window.

Key players from this season are already on the radars of other clubs, so Forest may need to work hard to keep certain figures at the City Ground. Morgan Gibbs-White is one man attracting significant attention, with Manchester City and Liverpool both interested.

Whether the midfielder leaves or not, Forest are looking to bolster their ranks and are pursuing a new option for the engine room.

Nottingham Forest could land bargain midfield signing

According to CaughtOffside, Nottingham Forest have set their sights on Girona midfielder Yangel Herrera this summer. They aren’t alone in their pursuit though, as the Newcastle United and Atletico Madrid are also in the frame.

Magpies manager Eddie Howe reportedly views Herrera as an ideal signing for the engine room, due to his physical strength, creative ability and his experience in La Liga.

The report claims that the Venezuela international will ‘want to compete at a high level’ next season and join a club ‘with ambition’. Forest certainly fit that description — if their rapid rise from relegation candidates to fighting for a Champions League spot isn’t considered an appealing project, there’s not much else that can sway a player.

Newcastle are planning to ‘move quickly’ in attempt to sign Herrera but Forest’s presence could make things complicated and negotiations between the clubs are ‘expected to slow down’ in the coming weeks.

How much would Nottingham Forest target Yangel Herrera cost?

According to Fichajes, Newcastle are looking to offer €25 million (£21m) to secure Herrera’s signature this summer. If this is an acceptable fee by Girona’s standards, Forest will be able to match such a bid. For a midfielder in today’s market, that’s a rather low value and Forest will probably view such a signing as a bargain.

With fees including Moises Caicedo’s £115 million move to Chelsea, price tags deemed on the lower side are becoming frequently less common.

Herrera comes highly recommended as well, and has played a key role in Girona’s season. As a natural central midfielder, the 27-year-old is noted for being both defensive and attacking, which Forest will certainly benefit from.

Arsenal icon and Premier League superstar Patrick Vieira had a lot of praise for Herrera when he coached him during their time at New York City FC together.

“He’s a tactically intelligent midfielder who is strong in the tackle and reads the game well. Yangel also has good passing range and spatial awareness, which is crucial for a player in his position,” Vieira said in 2017 when Herrera joined the Major League Soccer side on loan from Manchester City.