Forest poised for Toon winger bid
NOTTINGHAM Forest’s reported pursuit of Newcastle United winger Christian Atsu appears to be gathering pace, as the north-east club look to shift £100,000 per week on fringe players by Friday’s domestic transfer deadline.
The Reds were first linked with a move for the 28-year-old Ghanaian in January when they, along with Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers and Fulham, were reported to be in talks with the player.
Atsu, who joined the Magpies from Chelsea in 2017 after a loan spell, has made over 100 appearances for Newcastle, scoring eight goals, but is deemed surplus to requirements under manager Steve Bruce.
Watford are said to be leading the chase for the lively forward but, according to reports in the Mirror and the Northern Echo, Forest have “expressed an interest” in signing the winger and are ready to rival the Hornets for the signing.
The Chronicle report that Bruce is looking to shift around £100,000 per week in wages from his squad by Friday’s domestic deadline after it emerged that the cost of peripheral players prevented the boss from adding two of the players earmarked for loan slots.
United have Atsu, Achraf Lazaar, Henri Saivet and Rolando Aarons available after their representatives were told to seek new clubs.
All four will be released at the end of the season but Bruce felt the pinch as he had to abandon tentative interest in Ross Barkley, who went to Aston Villa, and Ruben Loftuscheek. Both would have commanded sizeable loan fees and a demand to pay a high proportion of their £100,000 a week-plus contracts.
Atsu has also played for Bournemouth and Everton in the Premier League.