MX23RW : Thursday, December 19 06:02:48| >> :600:144814:144814:

Forest transfer news: West Ham 'fail' with bid for international defender

Forest deliver West Ham further blow in right-back search?
© Reuters
Nottingham Forest reportedly reject an offer from West Ham United for one of their international defenders.

West Ham United have reportedly failed with an approach for Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams.

The Hammers are currently undergoing somewhat of a rebuild under new boss Julen Lopetegui, who has already spent £65m to sign Max Kilman and Luis Guilherme.

However, there are a number of areas of the pitch that require further strengthening, it well documented that the East Londoners are pushing to bring in Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran.

Furthermore, West Ham's pursuit of a new right-back has been highlighted of late, with Bayern Munich's Noussair Mazraoui known to be on their shortlist.

On Friday afternoon, though, reports in Germany indicated that the proposed deal had broken down and the Morocco international may instead move to Manchester United.

Any developments regarding the future of Aaron Wan-Bissaka - another West Ham target - could play its part in whether that transfer materialises or not.

Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams in April 2024.© Imago

Williams also on West Ham radar

According to HITC, West Ham are admirers of Forest defender Williams and have been willing to negotiate a deal.

Instead, it is claimed that Forest were quick to reject an offer for the Wales international, the proposal also said to include a West Ham player.

Although the 23-year-old only has a contract at the City Ground until 2026, the report adds that Forest are against a sale at the present time.

Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo during Everton game on April 21, 2024.© Reuters

Why are Forest insistent on a Williams stay?

Nuno Espirito Santo is not short of competition in that area of the pitch with Ola Aina also an option, albeit the Nigeria international sometimes being required on the left.

Forest also have high hopes for 18-year-old Eric da Silva Moreira, who has been signed from St Pauli, but Williams's own profile is enough to keep him in the East Midlands.

As many as 57 Premier League appearances have been made across the last two seasons, while he carries plenty of attacking pedigree and is versatile down both flanks.

Furthermore, he counts as a homegrown talent. With there being uncertainty over other such players in the Forest ranks, it makes sense for Forest to keep Williams in order to have fewer issues with squad registration.

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Written by
Darren Plant

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


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