Player snubbed big Nottingham Forest move as he didn’t want to ‘risk’ relegation – ‘Conditions weren’t there’

Nottingham Forest’s late January attempt to sign Merih Demiral from Atalanta is today recalled by the Italian media.

That comes from outlet Corriere Della Sera, who feature a big piece trying to explain why the defender no longer has the importance he once had in the Serie A side’s squad.

That story claims that on the final day of the transfer window, Nottingham Forest tried to sign Demiral on loan with an option to buy, which could become an obligation worth €28m.

The bid wasn’t turned down by Atalanta, but by the player himself. It’s claimed ‘the conditions weren’t there’, especially because he’d face the ‘risk’ of relegation to the Championship.

Demiral chose to stay at his club, where he’s actually closer to playing in the Champions League next season. And when Inter Milan came for him in that same window, he was keen on accepting that move, but that was blocked by the Bergamo side.

It turns out the defender is rarely starting games with Atalanta recently, spending most of the season on the bench, and a summer departure wouldn’t be strange. Maybe that would open a new opportunity for Nottingham Forest, especially with them escaping relegation.