For Nottingham Forest, some clarity may be only a few days away.
This is, after all, an ‘important week’ in the career of the Premier League-linked giant. And by the time next Monday rolls around, we may finally have confirmation about whether the Nottingham Forest target will be plying his trade at the City Ground come 2024/25.
Forest, since returning to the Premier League two years ago, have had no fewer than five goalkeepers who could claim – for a short spell at least – to be the club’s number one. First came Dean Henderson, then Keylor Navas arrived on loan from PSG. Matt Turner and Odysseas Vlachodimos came and went from the starting XI.
And while January recruit Matz Sels played his part in Forest’s escape from relegation, the 32-year-old does not feel like a particularly long-term solution.
![Carlos Miguel of Corinthians looks on during a Group F match between Corinthians and Racing de Montevideo as part of CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2024 at ...](https://www.hitc.com/static/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-2155089028-1024x760.jpg)
Nottingham Forest hope to sign Carlos Miguel
Is Carlos Miguel, seven years Sels’ junior, the man to finally end Nottingham Forest’s rotating cast of shot-stoppers? According to UOL, Miguel has accepted the offer put forward by the City Ground outfit.
There is still work to be done, however. The Corinthians goalkeeper has seen his release clause go from £42 million to just £3.5 million since the turn of the year, much to the frustration of the club’s bosses and the fans who have taken to labelling him something of a villain in all of this.
Fabinho Soldado, Corinthians’ football executive, believes that there is still a chance that Miguel can be convinced to stay put and sign a new deal. Whether he does or not, we should get some answers before the week is out.
“We proposed the (contract) renewal for Carlos. We were always interested in him staying. This week is important to understand how this will be resolved,” Soldado tells UOL and Meu Timao.
The executive does admit, however, that a list of potential replacements have already been drawn up should Miguel opt to join his former Corinthians team-mate Murillo in Nottingham.
“We receive several names every day,” Soldado adds. “Of course, we have some names mapped out, some names in the conversation. I hope to be able to bring the news as soon as possible and resolve this situation regarding the goalkeeper position.”
Corinthians planning for goalkeeper’s exit
Corinthians president Augusto Melo echoes Soldado’s sentiments.
“We made a renewal proposal. We are already working in this direction and we would not like to lose him. Unfortunately, the way this contract was created scares us,” Melo said, hitting out at Miguel’s camp after his release clause decreased by £39 million overnight.
“We are already talking to other goalkeepers, a scout (report) is being carried out.
“We don’t want people in here who don’t want to stay. Everyone has the right to leave. We want people who want to stay and play for Corinthians.
“We had information from Carlos Miguel. We talked about the renewal, we waited, we were reassured that everything would be ok. There wasn’t much to do.
“Why was there a clause of 50 million euros until December 31st and, from January 1st, a clause of 4 million euros? We are hostages. There is nothing we can do. If the player and the agent do not want to renew.
“Yes, there is talk, noises that they are going to pay the clause and that he is going to leave. (But) he is training, he is a Corinthians player.”
At 6ft 8ins, Carlos Miguel would become one of the tallest footballers in Premier League history.