Midfielder Noble off to Pools
KARANKA HOPES TO FEND OFF LEEDS AND BRING STRIKER TO CITY GROUND
LIAM Noble has left Notts County by mutual consent after the Magpies agreed to terminate his contract, and has joined National League Hartlepool United.
The midfielder left Meadow Lane to be closer to his family in the Northeast. It brings an end to a second spell at Notts for Noble, who re-signed for the Magpies on a free transfer last October after leaving Forest Green Rovers.
He was only eligible to play for the club since January having signed outside the transfer window and went on to make 21 appearances, scoring one goal.
Noble will link-up with Pools as they attempt to win promotion to the Football League. Notts owner and chairman Alan Hardy said: “Liam has had a very open and honest discussion with us and we were not going to stand in his way. We will be continuing to pursue a number of transfer targets.” NOTTINGHAM Forest’s capture of Hillal Soudani has not lessened their appetite to sign Lewis Grabban.
The Reds invested 3m euro to land the Algerian international striker from Dinamo Zagreb, with the 30-year-old putting pen to paper on a three year contract.
But Aitor Karanka remains keen to further bolster his attacking arsenal and it is understood that further talks have been held over a deal to land experienced front man Grabban in the past few days.
Grabban, who is also 30, scored 20 goals in the Championship last season, during loan spells with Sunderland and Aston Villa, would add to the experience and goal power that was brought by the capture of Soudani.
But Forest are working to fend off rival interest from Leeds United to secure the services of Grabban, who has always been Karanka’s primary forward target this summer, with Patrick Bamford and Nelson Oliveira regarded as alternative options if they cannot land him.
Grabban’s Premier League wages remain a significant potential stumbling block, but Forest are hopeful that an agreement can be reached to bring the striker to the City Ground.
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