Nottingham Forest have stepped up their ambitions in the transfer market with an official bid for Manchester City’s versatile youngster Rico Lewis.
Forest tabled a package worth €30 million, made up of a guaranteed €25 million fee plus €5 million in bonuses, sources close to the agents industry have informed CaughtOffside.
Despite the structured offer, Man City wasted little time in rejecting the proposal, as they remain determined to keep hold of one of their brightest academy graduates.
Forest’s pursuit of Lewis is not yet over. Talks are ongoing on two fronts, between the clubs and also with the player’s camp, as the East Midlands outfit look to agree personal terms. Sources suggest Forest are prepared to return with an improved bid, though the competition for the teenager’s signature is growing rapidly. Several Premier League clubs have now entered the conversation. Tottenham, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Aston Villa are all believed to have made enquiries with Man City. Chelsea’s interest, in particular, is said to be serious, with the Blues exploring whether they could tempt Lewis into a summer move to Stamford Bridge. However, City are wary of strengthening direct domestic rivals, which makes negotiations with clubs at the top end of the table much more complicated. For Pep Guardiola and his staff, the priority is clear: keeping Lewis at the Etihad Stadium. The youngster has shown his versatility for the Premier League giants by playing as a full-back as well as a defensive midfielder. Guardiola has frequently spoken about his admiration for Lewis, describing him as a player mature beyond his years and a valuable asset for the club’s long-term project. In line with this stance, City’s sporting director Hugo Viana has already initiated new contract discussions with Lewis’ representatives. The youngster is currently tied down until June 2028 on a weekly wage of £25,000, but the club is preparing to offer a significant pay rise to reflect his growing importance in the squad. The next few weeks will reveal whether Forest can raise their offer enough to force City’s hand, or if Guardiola will succeed in securing the teenager’s future at the Etihad. Man City fear “difficult situation” with possible Real Madrid transfer
Ponuda Nottinghama Foresta za mladog Ricu Lewisa
Nottingham Forest su povećali svoje ambicije na tržištu transfera s službenom ponudom za mladog i vrsnog igrača Manchester Citya, Rica Lewisa. Forest su ponudili paket vrijedan €30 milijuna, s garantiranim €25 milijuna te dodatnih €5 milijuna u bonusima, izvori bliski industriji agenata su obavijestili CaughtOffside. Unatoč strukturiranoj ponudi, Man City nije dugo čekao prije nego što je odbio prijedlog, jer su odlučni zadržati jednog od svojih najsjajnijih diplomaca akademije. Potraga Foresta za Lewisom još uvijek nije završena. Razgovori su u tijeku na dvije fronte, između klubova i također s timom igrača, dok ekipa iz East Midlandsa pokušava dogovoriti osobne uvjete. Izvori sugeriraju da je Forest pripremljen vratiti se s poboljšanom ponudom, iako se konkurencija za potpis tinejdžera brzo povećava. Nekoliko klubova Premier lige sada je uključeno u razgovor. Tottenham, Chelsea, Newcastle United i Aston Villa se svi vjeruje da su uputili upite Man Cityu. Interes Chelseaja, posebno, navodi se kao ozbiljan, s Bluesima istražujući mogu li nagovoriti Lewisa na ljetni prijelaz na Stamford Bridge. Međutim, City se boji jačanja direktnih domaćih rivala, što pregovore s klubovima na vrhu tabele čini mnogo kompliciranijim. Za Pepa Guardiolu i njegovo osoblje, prioritet je jasan: zadržavanje Lewisa na Etihadu. Tinejdžer je pokazao svoju vještinu za gigante Premier lige igrajući kao bek i defanzivni vezni igrač. Guardiola je često govorio o svojem divljenju za Lewisa, opisujući ga kao igrača zrela preko njegovih godina i vrijednu imovinu za dugoročni projekt kluba. U skladu s ovim stavom, sportski direktor Cityja, Hugo Viana, već je pokrenuo razgovore o novom ugovoru s predstavnicima Lewisa. Tinejdžer je trenutno vezan do lipnja 2028. godine s tjednom plaćom od £25,000, ali klub se priprema ponuditi znatno povećanje plaće kako bi odražavalo njegov rastući značaj u momčadi. Slijedeći tjedni otkrit će hoće li Forest može povećati svoju ponudu dovoljno da natjera City na postupak ili će Guardiola uspjeti osigurati tinejdžerovu budućnost na Etihadu. Man City strahuje od “teške situacije” s mogućim transferom u Real Madrid.
