Podence could go to Greece

NOTTINGHAM Forest could miss out on signing winger Daniel Podence, according to reports.

The Reds are understood to have held talks with the versatile midfielder, who is a free agent after terminating his contract with Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon.

But reports in Portugal claim he is now in negotiations with Olympiacos, who – as with Forest – are owned by businessman Evangelos Marinakis.

And the suggestion is Podence could now be set to join the Greek club, with Record claiming a move “is very close”, while The Game says talks have been “going well” and a conclusion could be expected in the next few days.

The Reds were understood to have been weighing up a move for 22-year-old Podence , who rescinded his deal with Sporting following reports of a training ground “attack” on players by some supporters. The Portugal Under-21 international is on the books of “super agent” Jorge Mendes, like fellow countrymen Joao Carvalho, Diogo Goncalves and Gil Dias, who have already come to the City Ground . JACK Robinson admits Joe Lolley did an impressive job of persuading him to join Nottingham Forest.

The 24-year-old defender has signed a two-year-contract, which could be extended for a further year, after leaving QPR.

Robinson had a number of options on the table this summer, after becoming a free agent and revealed that Forest boss Aitor Karanka had impressed him when they spoke for the first time a month ago.

But Robinson also said that former teammate Lolley had done a good job of persuading him that a move to the City Ground would be the right one for him, with the winger and the defender having played together during the 2014/15 season in Yorkshire, when Robinson started 31 games for the Terriers during a loan spell.

“I know Joe Lolley, he is my mate and has been for a few years. I met him at Huddersfield. We have been talking over the summer and he’s been telling me what it has been like here and what ambitions the manager has,” said Robinson.

“We have kept in touch and he was a factor in me signing as well. Because I have only heard good things from Joe.

“I am delighted to be honest, I met Aitor about four weeks ago. We had a meeting and I think from the first moment I met him, this was the club I wanted to sign for.

“He has the same ambition as I do, in wanting to strive to get this club to the top level.

‘‘It was an easy decision for me to sign here.

“I missed the first week of training, but I am ready to go now.

‘‘I will join in with the rest of the lads and we can get going from there, enjoy the pre-season and get ready for the first game.”

Robinson played in the centre of defence for much of last season at QPR, but was more widely regarded as a left back in the early stages of his career.

With Forest well stocked in the centre of defence – and badly lacking options in the full back position, that is where he is likely to feature with the Reds.

And the former Wolves and Blackpool player has no issue with playing in either role under Karanka.

“I don’t mind really. I grew up playing as a left-back but I have also played centre-half over the years,” he told the club website.

“Last year I was comfortable at centre-half, but I am just as comfortable at left back and I am happy to play there as well.

“I am hard working, tough tackling and have a little bit of quality to go with that. If I can show fans the best I have got, then I hope they will be happy with that.”

Robinson signed for QPR from Liverpool in 2014 and concedes that it was a difficult decision to part company with the London club.

But he is excited about taking on a new challenge at the City Ground, where he hopes to play his part in helping the club to secure a top six finish – and hopefully a place in the Premier League.

“I had been at QPR for four years so it was a tough decision and the fans have found it hard that I have left, but I had to make the right career choice for me. I think this is it,

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