Report: Nottingham Forest to make fresh £4.4m bid to sign Morrocan captain this summer with Steve Cooper keen to add more players with PL experience to his squad

Nottingham Forest will make a new bid to sign Besiktas defender Romain Saiss this summer, with the player keen to sign for the Reds. The Morroco international will cost any potential suitors around £4.3 million.

According to Skorer TV, the Reds are now preparing to make a swoop on the Turkish club. It’s believed that they would consider a sale but want to recoup what they feel he’s worth.

It’s been a whirlwind campaign for Saiss during 2022/23. In December he helped Morocco make history as they became the first African nation to reach the last four of the World Cup.

Domestically, Besiktas can still win the league too. They currently sit in third place, five points behind leaders Galatasaray having played a game more.

Forest will likely go in search of another defender or two in the summer. Felipe and Moussa Niakhate have been the recent partnership, with Joe Worrall or Scott McKenna slotting in when playing a three.

Saiss would bring an abundance of experience to the City Ground. He previously spent many years with Wolves, making 206 appearances, with over 100 of those coming in the Premier League.

At £4.3 million, the defender wouldn’t break the bank. As a result, he might not prove to be a bad signing at all for the Reds to make.

Compatriot Medhi Benatia has raved about Saiss before. He called him ‘impeccable’ after he was named as the Morocco captain for the recent World Cup.

There is a small element of short-termism with this deal, it has to be said. The player is now 33-years-old and it’s fair to say that he’s beyond his peak.

Still, Felipe is a year older and he’s been in fantastic form this season at the City Ground. The hope would be that Saiss could come into the club and make a similar impact.

It now seems as though the player wants to move. The ball is therefore in Forest’s court and if they pay the money perhaps they will get their man this summer.

The jury may remain out on the 72-cap star if he signs for the Reds. It’s hard to knock Steve Cooper though and if he wants him to come in, then so be it.