2023 Summer transfers

I think we’d all miss Angry Serge - one of those signings who elicited a “Meh” at the time but proved to be outstanding - but if he really does have an offer from Saudi, realistically he’s not turning it down (except on Planet Normal for Norfolk, it seems). Hard to blame a man for choosing financial security for life (& probably his kids’ lives, too, if he has any), however much he might like Nottingham!

Still, no poultry counting and all that, but if we do get Montiel that’s a serious coup. Two years ago we were struggling to get in enough loans under Hughton; from there to a World Cup winner is quite a step!

I don't really care how young Serge is or how much Saudi offer, i had very low hopes when he signed on a free but he was a transformative signing last season and has generally been bloody brilliant since he signed. We may not have won on Friday without him. Losing him for someone untried in this country would be a risk and probably not a good development. How about a bloody left back instead. Valentin Barco would be good if they need to be Argentinian.

Yes, to some extent all players are mercenaries. I wasn't suggesting in the least that Aurier has some particular affinity for Forest. I'm 57, not 17. I was suggesting that, if your (originally unsubstantiated) rumour was true, then Forest should do what they can to persuade him to stay, because in my opinion he is a very important player in our squad. Football is not (yet) entirely about money. Sometimes football is about football. And most players would prefer to play in the EPL than in the Saudi league, provided their remuneration is not pitiful. Are we there yet? Or is my use of English still proving too challenging for you?

Serge wasn’t particularly brilliant from Feb onwards last season and was injured a bit too.

Wiki says this argie was charged by Argentinian police in June for a sexual
assault following an incident in 2019. But doesn’t give any more than that.

Sure about that, are you? Not all the players who have gone to Saudi from English clubs are in the twilight of their career. Ruben Neves, for example.

Read my fucking post. I didn't say he will stay, I said we should try to persuade him to stay.

I’m with Norfolk. Serge likes the good guys. He plays for the Ivory Coast which has it’s fair share of human rights issues and he doesn’t want to deal with the Saudi blood money. Or maybe he still wants to play in the top league in the world?

The rest of you can fuck off..

Chicago: Humanitarian.

Yes, but he was getting the fuck out of Wolverhampton.

Yes. Yes I am. If they were paid the same, the vast majority of players would stay in the EPL. Players go to Saudi for the money. And money is not the only factor for deciding where to play.

Racist.

Thank you Chic.

NorfolkRed: appreciative of a regular poster who doesn't jump on the band-wagon

I'm with you too Norfolk boy, but that's probably more hinderance than help because I've been designated a troll by the illuminati and everything I say is therefore wrong and/or the words of a pantomime bogeyvillain.

Thanks mate. I'll take all the help I can get.

I’m remaining steadfastly independent but really enjoying the show. Please carry on. Where’s the popcorn?

www.thesun.co.uk/sport/21893915/argentina-world-cup-gonzalo-montiel-sexual-assault/

Well, duhh. But they are not paid the same. Or anything like the same. That’s how the Saudi thing works, at least at the moment; they are in a position to throw ridiculous amounts of money - even by Premier League footballer standards - at it in order to lure enough decent players there to give their league publicity. See LIV golf and no doubt other sport wash stuff of which I’m not aware.

If Serge is offered a Saudi deal, Forest will not have the slightest chance of matching it. Doesn’t mean he’ll definitely go, but it probably makes it pretty likely. After all, Jordan Henderson’s public stuff about LGBT+ rights didn’t stop him going…

In due course, if you are right, you’ll be in a position to list players who were offered a Saudi deal but opted to stay where they were. Especially at a middle ranking provincial club that’s likely to be fighting relegation every season for a good while. At the moment, I’d say that list is vanishingly short