Nottingham Forest Close to Loan Agreement with Napoli for Lorenzo Lucca – the Athletic

Nottingham Forest’s Search for Striker Continues

Nottingham Forest, currently sitting one place above the relegation zone in 17th position, are making significant moves to strengthen their squad ahead of the upcoming transfer window. The club is close to a loan agreement with Serie A giants Napoli for striker Lorenzo Lucca, according to The Athletic. This move comes as a result of Forest’s ongoing search for a new striker, following the absence of last season’s top scorer, Chris Wood, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury.

Personal Terms Near Agreement

The personal terms between Lucca and Nottingham Forest are almost finalized, indicating that the deal could be confirmed shortly. The loan agreement, which would allow Lucca to return to English football, comes with an option for Napoli to buy Lucca around €40 million, reflecting the price they paid Udinese for him last summer. This move is seen as a strategic decision by Forest, given their current position in the league and the need for offensive reinforcement.

Striker’s Performance at Napoli

Lucca, who turns 26 this year, has been on loan from Udinese to Napoli since last summer. Despite being part of Antonio Conte’s team, he has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter in the Serie A top flight, making only four appearances so far. His lone goal came in one of those matches, which adds to the intrigue surrounding his potential move back to England.

Forest’s Transfer List

The news comes amidst a busy transfer window for Nottingham Forest. The club had previously been linked with Iran international Mehdi Taremi and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Jorgen Strand Larsen, but it seems that Lucca has taken the lead in their transfer plans. Additionally, the club recently loaned out Arnaud Kalimuendo to Frankfurt, where he has made a promising start, scoring one goal and providing an assist in his first three Bundesliga matches.

Forest’s focus on finding a new striker is understandable given their current struggles.

They are currently 16 goals behind Leeds United in the 16th position, highlighting the urgency of this transfer deal. The proposed loan for Lucca could potentially provide a short-term solution while allowing Napoli to retain an option to purchase him if he proves successful.

The Athletic’s report suggests that this move is unlikely to affect Nottingham Forest’s plans for Taremi, who they see as similar to the now-injured Chris Wood. This indicates that the club remains committed to bringing in quality attacking options despite their current challenges.

Conclusion

The proposed loan agreement between Nottingham Forest and Napoli for Lorenzo Lucca is a significant move for both clubs. With personal terms almost finalized, it seems likely that the striker will make his way back to England soon. This transfer could provide much-needed attacking depth for Forest while giving Napoli the option to strengthen their squad further if necessary.

As Nottingham Forest continues its search for a new top scorer, Lucca’s potential arrival could be just what the team needs to turn their season around.

The club’s efforts in this transfer window underscore their commitment to improving their offensive capabilities and competing at the higher end of the Championship table.

The deal is expected to be finalized shortly, keeping fans of both clubs on tenterhooks as they wait for confirmation. Nottingham Forest supporters will hope that Lucca can replicate his form from last season and help lift the team out of relegation trouble, while Napoli may see this loan as a wise move to keep options open in case they decide to make him a permanent addition.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing transfer saga.