Xaver Schlager is expected to complete his move to Nottingham Forest next week, after turning down Bournemouth to link up with Oliver Glasner.
Journalist Peter Linden reports that Schlager is Nottingham Forest’s chosen man to replace Elliot Anderson and should finalise his move to the City Ground soon.
Nottingham Forest win battle
According to Linden, Xaver Schlager had three options in the Premier League this summer. Nottingham Forest were one of them, Bournemouth were another. The third option remains unnamed at this point.
But it was very much a case of reunions for the 28-year-old. If he had chosen Bournemouth, it would have meant reuniting with Marco Rose, the manager he made his name under at RB Leipzig.
Instead, he is set to reunite with Glasner at Nottingham Forest. The two previously worked together at VfL Wolfsburg. That move was Schlager’s first switch outside Austria, and now he’s heading to England.
The deal with Nottingham Forest is not finalised yet, but that is likely to happen next week. He will likely be one of several signings targeted by Glasner this summer.
Glasner given squad power
According to Linden, Glasner will be given more influence over squad selection than he did at Wolfsburg, Eintracht Frankfurt or Crystal Palace.
The imminent signing of Xaver Schlager is testament to that. The Austrian has also been allowed to bring his staff from Selhurst Park with him.
He has the full backing of owner Evangelos Marinakis, with whom he shares a ‘common vision’. They both want to turn Nottingham Forest into a ‘top flight club once again’. Given that they’re already in the Premier League, that presumably means getting them into Europe on a regular basis.
For now, the focus is on signings. Schlager will be the first and the deal to sign him on a free transfer is expected to be finalised at some point next week.
