Nottingham Forest just approved a €30m January deal for a French forward – and nobody saw this coming
Nottingham Forest are prepared to sanction a major January transfer involving one of their French forwards,
with the club open to both permanent and temporary exits that could generate a fee in the region of €30 million.
The development has been confirmed exclusively and represents a significant shift in the club’s winter planning.
Multiple clubs across Europe have already shown interest, and the Premier League side are not expected to block a departure if the right structure is presented.
While a permanent sale remains the preferred route, sources indicate that a loan with an option or obligation to buy is also firmly on the table.
The flexibility being shown by the City Ground hierarchy has raised eyebrows, particularly given the investment made only last summer.
The situation has developed quietly over recent weeks. Limited opportunities in the Premier League have created a clear desire for regular football, and the player in question is understood to be receptive to a change of scenery in January.
Forest’s stance is pragmatic: they will not force anyone to stay if playing time cannot be guaranteed, but they will also protect their financial position by seeking a deal that reflects the original outlay.
Under the current manager, minutes have been scarce. Just 110 minutes across five appearances this season, almost all of them from the bench, have left the forward searching for a stage where consistent starts are realistic.
No goals or assists have been recorded so far, a stark contrast to previous form that once made him a regular scorer in top-flight football.
That lack of involvement has accelerated talks about an exit, and the club are now actively open to solutions that work for all parties.
A temporary move that includes a future purchase clause has not been ruled out if a full permanent offer fails to materialise at the required level.
Forest’s willingness to explore different structures suggests they recognise the need for pragmatism in the January window, when clubs are often more cautious with permanent spending. The door is therefore open, and interested parties know it.
The most persistent interest has come from Germany. Eintracht Frankfurt continue to monitor developments closely after the forward’s productive loan spell there during the second half of last season.
Six goals in 19 appearances left a strong impression, and the Bundesliga club view him as a priority attacking target once the window opens. Funding a full permanent fee close to Forest’s valuation would be challenging, making a loan with an option the most realistic pathway for a reunion.
Arnaud Kalimuendo joined Nottingham Forest from Rennes in August 2025 for a fee in the region of €30 million and remains contracted until June 2030.
His limited involvement under Oliver Glasner this campaign has prompted legitimate questions about his long-term role at the club. A January exit now looks increasingly plausible for every side involved.
Any deal would give the 24-year-old the platform to rediscover the sharp, clinical form that previously made him a consistent threat in Ligue 1 and during his successful spell in the Bundesliga.
For Forest, it offers the chance either to recoup a significant portion of their investment or to structure a move that keeps future options alive while freeing up space in the attacking group.
The timing is notable. January windows are rarely straightforward, and clubs often prefer to wait until the summer for major squad surgery.
Yet the combination of limited minutes, clear interest from elsewhere, and Forest’s willingness to listen has created genuine momentum. Sources close to the situation insist the club will not stand in the way if a suitable proposal arrives, provided the financial and sporting terms make sense.
Frankfurt’s continued monitoring is particularly significant. The German side already know exactly what Kalimuendo can produce when given regular starts.
Their previous loan relationship provides a ready-made template, and a return on temporary terms with an option would allow both clubs to manage risk while giving the player the game time he currently lacks.
Whether other Premier League or European sides can match or exceed that interest remains to be seen, but the market is aware that Forest are open for business on this particular forward.
From Forest’s perspective, the preferred outcome is a permanent sale that recovers as much of the original €30 million outlay as possible. However, the club’s openness to a loan structure shows they understand the realities of the current market.
Not every interested party will be able or willing to meet a full permanent valuation in January, especially for a player who has yet to make a significant impact in the Premier League this season.
A well-constructed temporary deal with a future clause could therefore satisfy all parties in the short term.
Kalimuendo’s situation also reflects broader squad dynamics at the City Ground. With competition for places in the forward line and a manager who has clear preferences regarding intensity and tactical fit, minutes have been hard to come by.
Five appearances and 110 minutes represent a clear drop-off from the levels of involvement he enjoyed during his loan in Germany.
That drop-off has naturally fuelled discussions about whether a fresh start elsewhere would benefit both player and club.
The contract situation provides Forest with leverage. Running until 2030, the deal gives the club security and the ability to demand a proper fee or structured exit. At the same time,
it means any permanent sale would need to reflect both the remaining years on the contract and the original transfer fee paid only 15 months earlier. Balancing those factors will be key to any successful negotiation.
Interest is not limited to Frankfurt, according to those familiar with the discussions. Multiple clubs have registered their interest, though the German side remain the most advanced and the most natural fit given the previous relationship.
Whether that interest converts into a formal offer once the window opens will depend on the exact structure Forest are prepared to accept and the player’s own preference for regular first-team football.
For the forward himself, the priority is clear: consistent minutes and the chance to score goals again.
The lack of involvement this season has been frustrating, and a move that guarantees a more central role is understood to be attractive. Forest’s pragmatic approach removes one of the usual obstacles and increases the likelihood that something can be agreed in January rather than waiting until the summer.
Any successful deal would also free up resources and squad space for Nottingham Forest. Whether that translates into incoming business in the same window remains to be seen, but the willingness to sanction an exit of this nature shows the club are prepared to make hard decisions when squad balance and player development are at stake.
The coming weeks will be decisive. As the January window approaches, formal contact is expected to intensify.
Forest will listen carefully to permanent offers while remaining open to creative loan structures that include future purchase options.
Frankfurt will continue to push their case, and other interested parties will decide whether they can compete. In the middle sits a French forward who simply wants to play regularly again.
What looked like a quiet squad situation has suddenly become one of the more intriguing potential January stories.
Nottingham Forest have approved the principle of a significant move involving their French forward, and the market now knows the door is open. Whether it leads to a permanent €30 million-level departure or a structured loan remains to be negotiated, but the intention from the club is no longer in doubt.
The exclusive confirmation that Forest are prepared to sanction either route marks a clear shift. For a player who arrived with high expectations and a substantial price tag, the coming transfer window now offers a realistic chance of a fresh start.
For the club, it offers flexibility, potential financial return, and the opportunity to reshape the attacking options under the current manager.
Both sides appear aligned on the need for a solution, and that alignment is what makes a January exit a genuine possibility rather than mere speculation.