EXCLUSIVE: Serge Aurier could still leave Nottingham Forest despite move to Galatasary breaking down at last minute with player not part of Nuno future plans at City Ground after Tottenham history
Nottingham Forest defender Serge Aurier’s proposed move to Galatasaray is OFF due to an issue with payment terms… but the Turkish transfer window is still open for another week which means Galatasary could still sign the player.
Serge Aurier had looked set to join Galatasaray from Nottingham Forest. The deal is currently off as the clubs have not reached an agreement on payment.
The Nottingham Forest defender had looked set to join the Turkish giants on Thursday, but Mail Sport understands the two clubs are yet to come to an agreement on payment terms.
This stumbling block has put the move in significant jeopardy. However, the Turkish transfer window does not close until February 9, meaning there is still time for a deal to be reached.
Aurier, who played for Tottenham between 2017 and 2021, joined Forest on a free transfer in September 2022 after being released by Villarreal.
He featured 24 times for the club in the league in his first season as they narrowly avoided relegation in their first campaign back in the top-flight.
Aurier remained a regular starter at the beginning of this season and was handed the captain’s armband on multiple occasions by Steve Cooper. However, he has not played for Forest since December 2 after suffering a calf strain that ruled him out for a month.
He is now away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast, and is yet to play under Nuno Espirito Santo at the City Ground. Forest were keen to add another right back to their ranks as Aurier edged nearer to a move away, but they failed to bring anyone in before Thursday’s deadline.
Aurier is reportedly not part of Nuno Espirito’s plan going forward at the club with the Portuguese head coach skeptical of the Ivorian fullback having had a run-in with the player during their time at Tottenham.
But Forest would not want a depleted squad and they may now be hesitant to let Aurier go ahead of a huge second half of the season as they try to stay in the Premier League.
Forest have lost their last two matches and are just two points above the relegation zone.
