13 July 2023 , 17:36
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Nottingham Forest are closing in on a deal to snare Willian from Fulham - thanks to owner Evangelos Marinakis.
The shipping magnate is close to pulling off a coup for the 34-year-old Brazilian after raising the prospect of extending the forward's career by spending a year in Greece. Willian had been offered a 12-months at Craven Cottage but Forest are enticing him to the east Midlands with the promise of a further season at Olympiakos - which Marinakis owns.
The former Chelsea star returned to south-west London last term and helped himself to five goals and six assists during an impressive campaign for the Cottagers. But with the market having been upset by the arrival of huge offers from Saudi Arabia, several players have been examining their options.
Willian was courted by the Middle Eastern state but it appears that he now looks set for a spell with the former two-time European Champions as Steve Cooper looks to build on a roller-coaster first Premier League season. Forest finished 16th last season, four points outside the bottom three.
Cooper has already brought in his first senior signing of the summer, with Chris Wood joining in a permanent move following a spell on loan in which he scored once in seven outings. It appears Willian will join him imminently, with BBC East Midlands reporting that the veteran is set for a medical.
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One loanee who doesn't look like returning, however, is Renan Lodi. The former Atletico Madrid star impressed in a left wing-back role, but reports on the continent suggest he is Marseille-bound in a permanent move.
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Forest's Willian pursuit comes at a time when the club are preparing for life without Jesse Lingard and Andre Ayew. The pair, both signed on free transfers, have not extended their stays beyond the end of the 2022-23 season.
Ghana international Ayew and former Man Utd star Lingard have both yet to find a new club. The latter has been seen training at Inter Miami's facilities, and has also spoken about links with the Saudi Pro League.
"The project's got to be well-suited for me, the team's got to be going in a good direction," Lingard told Sky Sports in June. "Literally, it's just regular game time - I'm still hungry, working hard out here...
"Saudi Arabia are doing big things, and in the next year or so it will be one of the hotspots to go to. I'm not really surprised that loads of big names are moving out there. Obviously it's something I'm going to consider as well, I've not ruled that out either - like I say, it's just got to be right for me at the end of the day."