EXCLUSIVE :Nottingham Forest’s failed £30m deal a lucky escape as injury sees star stretchered off

Nottingham Forest’s inability to sign the striker before the August transfer window is believed to have been portrayed by some as a mistake that would lead to their downfall.

   Still unbeaten after five games thanks to Ramon Sosa’s equalizer in a 2-2 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion, Nuna Espirito Santo certainly don’t look or play like a relegation-threatened side at the moment.

   And while a record six goals in five games doesn’t exactly mean Nottingham Forest can afford to get too carried away at the moment, Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi – when on form – are a match for most Premier League defenders.

   So perhaps all the fuss over the lack of centre-forward signings was, in hindsight, a bit overblown.

   Nottingham Forest tried to sign Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt but failed.    They made a bid for Eddie Nketiah – now at Crystal Palace – and Brentford rejected a £25m bid for Yoane Wiss.

   Santiago Gimenez came closer than most.

   HITC reported last month that Feyenoord had accepted a £30m bid for Gimenez.    However, the Mexico international cooled off before opting to stay with the 2023 Eredivisie champions.

   A decision that currently looks to be Gimenez’s loss more than Forest’s.

   Santiago Gimenez has quit after a failed move to Nottingham Forest

   The former Cruz Azul ace – HITC understands Gimenez was also on Tottenham Hotspur’s radar before they selected Dominic Solanke – was stretchered off with his head in his hands during Sunday’s 2-0 win against NAC Breda.

   There was a tense silence over De Kuip, Gimenez appearing to twitch the back of his leg as he competed for the ball.

   There is no confirmation of the severity of the damage yet.

   But Feyenoord, already in a difficult position following the departure of Arne Slot – they lost 4-0 at home to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League three days ago – will be begging for some welcome good news as fears grow that Gimenez could be dropped  .    for an extended spell on the page.

   Gimenez rejected a move to the Premier League

   As the window closed, Feyenoord director Dennis te Kloese explained that Gimenez was having doubts about a move to Nottingham Forest.

   “I don’t think he was 100 per cent sure about Nottingham Forest,” Te Kloese told ESPN.    “And we as a club weren’t 100 per cent sure about the move to Nottingham Forest.

   “And so we decided to sit down with him and his management [and say]; ‘Well, we’re just going to keep going [together].’

   “I’m not sorry at all.”

   Three weeks later, that sense of relief quickly turns to despondency among Feyenoord fans.

   After Nottingham Forest shocked Liverpool on their hallowed turf of Anfield last weekend, Feyenoord drew with newly promoted FC Groningen.

   Gimenez’s performance again left a lot to be desired, with former Ajax and PSV Eindhoven midfielder Kenneth Perez wondering if the Rotterdam giants might be about to kick after turning down £30m for a striker who has rarely proved worthy of such a charge.    lately.

   After all, Gimenez’s form took a sharp turn for the worse in 2024.  And there is no guarantee that, if his injury turns out to be as serious as first thought, he will be seen again until 2025.

   But despite red cards for Morgan Gibbs-White and manager Nunu in that thriller at Brighton, the atmosphere at Nottingham Forest could hardly have been more different.