Loan star Montiel is linked to Flamengo

GONZALO Montiel ‘wouldn’t mind’ leaving Nottingham Forest in the summer as Flamengo are believed to be interested in completing a £7m deal.

The World Cup winner arrived at the City Ground in August from Sevilla, last season’s Europa League champions. He joined on an initial loan until the end of the season, with an option for the move to become permanent in a reported £9.4m deal.

Montiel initially enjoyed more game time under Nuno after struggling for minutes under former Reds boss Steve Cooper. The full-back started in wins over Newcastle United and Manchester United during the early days of Nuno’s tenure but has not featured for Forest since the FA Cup win over Bristol City in February.

It is said that an option for Montiel’s loan move to become permanent would become an obligation should the right-back play 50 per cent of Forest’s games this season. The 27-year-old has not been involved for the Reds in recent months.

A report in D Sports (via Sportwitness) has claimed Brazilian side Flamengo are interested in completing a deal for the Argentine.

Sevilla would then receive a transfer fee for the player, while Forest will be under no obligation to pay Montiel’s reported £9.4m fee which would ease their financial fair play (FFP) concerns

The Reds will need to be more prudent with their spending after being handed a four point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Forest are weighing up whether to appeal against their penalty.

However, doing so would not be without some risk.

Premier League rules state an appeal board may “except in the case of a fixed penalty, vary any penalty imposed or order made at first instance”.

It should also be considered that accepting the deduction may allow the club to move on and focus on there relegation battle with only nine games remaining.