Nottingham Forest keen on signing Bright Osayi-Samuel from Fenerbahçe this month

NOTTINGHAM Forest are desperately trying to hijack the signing of Nigerian fullback Bright Osayi-Samuel from Turkish giants Fenerbahçe before the closing of the current January transfer window.

Before the World Cup, Osayi-Samuel had communicated with the Fenerbahce management and conveyed a request that he wanted to leave the club and return to England. Osayi-Samuel, 25, joined Fenerbahce from Queens Park Rangers in January 2021 and up until the end of last year made 83 appearances in all competitions for the Istanbul club, registering three goals and six assists.

This season, he has lost his place in the starting line-up, only making three starts from a possible 13 in the Turkish Super Lig. This is one of the reasons why he wants to leave Fenerbahce and with his stock currently high after he made his international debut for Nigeria against Portugal in November, the defender is hoping to capitalise on it.

Several English Premier League clubs are thus looking at the defender who has been closely linked with a move to Crystal Palace. According to online football portal Soccernet, Palace is aiming to sign Osayi-Samuel for a sum of approximately €11.28m.

However, Forest are very active in the January transfer window, having just secured the loan signing of Chris Wood as a back-up for Taiwo Awoniyi. Forest, who were in relegation trouble before the World Cup break, seem to be off to a promising start in 2023 and are looking to build ion this revival with more signings.

Manager Steve Cooper would like to keep the great run going after winning three of their past five games. Forest now want to snatch Osayi-Samuel  from under the noses of Crystal Palace and lure him to City Ground as part of their revival drive.

Fenerbahçe wooed the fullback to Turkey for a sum of roughly €508k and if Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace go head-to-head for his signature, Fenerbahçe will make a substantial profit from the deal. A product of Blackpool's Academy, Osayi-Samuel has no English Premier League experience but previously played in the Championship, League One and League Two.