It’s Happening: Nottingham Forest Make Fresh Bid – January Transfer Now ‘Unavoidable’
Nottingham Forest are back in the hunt for a talented right-back. Fresh reports confirm the Premier League club are preparing a new offer that could force through a January move.
The interest is far from new. Forest tried hard to sign the Spaniard last summer but were rejected.
Now the situation at both clubs has changed dramatically in Forest’s favour.
In the summer of 2025, Nottingham Forest tabled a €10 million bid for the 24-year-old. Sevilla were open to selling.
The player himself admitted the financial package was strong for him and his family.
Yet he chose to stay. Speaking in September 2025, the full-back explained his decision clearly. He said the Premier League offer was very good financially but felt it wasn’t the right time to leave.
That decision now looks costly. Twelve months later, his status at Sevilla has collapsed. What was once a regular starting role has turned into a fight for scraps of playing time.
Last season José Ángel Carmona made 38 appearances for the Andalusian side. He was a reliable presence at right-back and showed the athleticism and progressive passing that first attracted Premier League scouts.
This campaign has been very different. The arrival of Juan Iglesias in the summer has pushed Carmona down the pecking order. The former has started ahead of him for long stretches.
Carmona has managed just 85 minutes across five La Liga matches so far. Since the beginning of October his total has dropped to a mere 22 minutes.
That kind of involvement is dangerous for a 24-year-old still trying to establish himself.
Sevilla’s financial problems make the situation even clearer.
The club are under pressure to raise funds and free up wages. Players with limited minutes have become obvious targets for sale this winter.
According to Vamos Mi Sevilla FC, offloading squad members who are not contributing is now an “unavoidable priority.”
The report states that Sevilla need the money and the squad space to bring in reinforcements who can actually help them climb the table.
Carmona fits the profile of a player they are ready to move on. His contract still has value, but his current role does not. A sale in January would suit both the club’s books and the player’s career.
Nottingham Forest have noticed. Club officials remain convinced that Carmona has the physical and technical tools to succeed in the Premier League. They like his energy up and down the flank and his ability to defend one-versus-one.
The new offer is expected to be lower than last year’s failed bid. Sources close to the deal say Forest are prepared to go slightly above €5 million. That figure is roughly half of the €10 million they offered in 2025.
Whether that amount will be enough remains to be seen. Sevilla are desperate for cash, but they will still try to extract the best possible fee. Negotiations could become tense if other clubs sense blood in the water.
At the City Ground the right-back situation is already crowded. Oliver Glasner currently has Daniel Muñoz and Ola Aina competing for the starting role. Both have performed solidly this season.
Signing Carmona only makes complete sense if one of the current options is set to leave. There has been quiet talk that Aina could attract interest in January. Should that happen, Forest would suddenly need cover and competition.
Even without an outgoing, Glasner may simply want deeper options. The Premier League schedule is relentless. Injuries and suspensions can strike at any moment. A hungry, motivated Carmona on a relatively modest fee would represent smart business.
The timing also works in Forest’s favour. Carmona is no longer the confident regular who rejected them a year ago. Limited minutes have created urgency. Players in his position often prioritise game time over loyalty when their careers risk stalling.
For Sevilla the sale would bring short-term relief. Every euro counts as they try to balance the books and rebuild a competitive squad. Losing a fringe player for a useful fee is the kind of deal many La Liga clubs are forced into these days.
From Carmona’s perspective the move could restart his momentum. Regular football in a competitive Premier League side under Glasner would offer a clear path back into Spain’s national team conversation. Staying and watching from the bench does not.
Forest’s recruitment team have form for identifying value in the Spanish market. They have shown patience with targets before and are not afraid to return with improved or adjusted offers when circumstances shift.
The latest reports suggest those circumstances have now shifted decisively. What was once a polite rejection has become a realistic opportunity. January is still weeks away, but the groundwork is being laid.
If Forest submit a formal bid in the region of €5-6 million, Sevilla will find it hard to refuse. The player’s lack of minutes and the club’s financial needs leave little room for sentiment.
Supporters of both clubs will watch the coming weeks closely. For Forest fans it represents another potential addition to a squad still evolving under Glasner. For Sevilla supporters it is another reminder of the club’s ongoing struggle to keep its best young talent.
José Ángel Carmona’s future is no longer certain in Seville. Nottingham Forest sense the opening and are preparing to act. A deal that looked dead twelve months ago is suddenly very much alive.
Whether the fresh offer is accepted quickly or turns into a longer negotiation, one thing is already clear. The January window is shaping up to be significant for both the player and the two clubs involved.
Forest’s willingness to return for Carmona shows belief in his long-term potential. Sevilla’s willingness to listen shows the pressure they are under. In modern football those two forces often produce a transfer.
As of 13 November 2026 the story is still developing. But the direction of travel is unmistakable. Nottingham Forest want the player. Sevilla need to sell. And José Ángel Carmona needs to play.