Forest eye Manchester City duo in bold Transfer swoop | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest Eye Manchester City Double Deal

Nottingham Forest are pushing forward with bold transfer plans, looking to secure both James McAtee and Rico Lewis from Manchester City, according to Daily Mail Sport. While the deal for McAtee is already agreed at £30 million, Forest had initially hoped to land Lewis as part of the same package.

McAtee’s arrival is a coup in itself. After making just three Premier League starts last season, he went on to captain England’s Under-21s to European Championship glory. City have protected their asset with a sell-on and buyback clause, highlighting just how carefully they manage academy departures.

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Rico Lewis Valuation Creates Separate Battle

Forest’s ambition to also land Lewis will demand even greater financial commitment. The Daily Mail report suggests the versatile England international is valued at more than £30 million. He made 44 appearances across all competitions last season, yet Pep Guardiola has increasingly turned to Matheus Nunes at right back.

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“City had been looking to tie the youngster down to a new deal, and marked those negotiations as a priority going into the summer, but have not managed to finalise terms.” This has opened the door for clubs like Forest to test City’s resolve.

Manchester City’s Transfer Strategy

The champions have become more pragmatic in recent years, inserting clauses that protect their interests. “Lewis would also command similar clauses, with City using those more frequently now after the success of Cole Palmer at Chelsea.”

City’s openness to selling Lewis reflects a wider policy. “They are thought to be open to allowing Lewis to leave if the right offer came in, a position that they have also taken on Spurs target Savinho and Ederson amid interest in the goalkeeper from Galatasaray.”

Forest’s Growing Ambition

Should Forest pull off both signings, it would represent a statement of intent. They are positioning themselves as more than Premier League survivors, instead aiming to compete with proven young talent. With Sverre Nypan heading to Middlesbrough on loan, City are also ensuring their future homegrown quota remains intact.

For Forest, this is an opportunity to transform their squad depth and raise expectations around the City Ground. The capture of McAtee is already impressive, but if Lewis follows, it could reshape their season.

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Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Nottingham Forest fans will be excited by the prospect of this double swoop. Securing James McAtee alone for £30 million is already a significant move, especially with his leadership role for England Under-21s, but adding Rico Lewis would be seismic. Many Forest supporters will feel that this signals genuine ambition from the club, breaking away from the idea of merely surviving in the Premier League.

At the same time, there will be an air of scepticism. Spending upwards of £60 million on two academy players is a gamble, no matter how talented they may be. Forest’s faithful will remember previous windows where expectations were not always matched by performances. However, the clauses City insist on, such as buyback rights, do at least show that they still rate these players highly, which could reassure Forest fans that they are signing real quality.

Others may be concerned about balance in the squad. Forest already need experienced figures to steady them, so relying on youngsters who have struggled for regular minutes at City might carry risk. Still, the idea of watching McAtee and Lewis grow in Forest colours is one that excites, especially with the potential resale value if they flourish.

Overall, supporters will view this as a turning point. “Were Lewis to depart, Guardiola would be left with just five homegrown players,” but Forest would gain far more than just a right back. They would gain a symbol of their intent to establish themselves as a club ready to compete, not just survive.