Nottingham Forest ‘turn to forgotten Newcastle flop as cut-price deadline day transfer alternative to Sam Johnstone’

NOTTINGHAM FOREST have reportedly turned their attentions to a forgotten Newcastle goalkeeper as Nuno Espirito Santo looks to strengthen his options in goal.

The club have made an approach for Strasbourg's Matz Sels, who played for the Magpies between 2016 and 2018.

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Sels was never a first-teamer for the Geordies but played nine games for them in the Championship.

He also played three times in the FA Cup and two times in the league cup.

While he spent his time in England as a backup, he has become a first-team regular at Strasbourg, playing 19 times in Ligue 1 this season.

The keeper, 31, would provide competition to Matt Turner and Odysseas Vlachodimos, both of which have struggled at times this season.

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reports that the club will bid £5.5million to bring the experienced keeper in.

Forest's interest in Sels comes amid a late move for Crystal Palace's Sam Johnstone.

Forest are reportedly willing to offer up to £15m for the keeper who is looking to play regularly ahead of Euro 2024.

Johnstone has made 16 appearances for Palace this season but has now been displaced by Dean Henderson.

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Henderson's £100,000-a-week wages give Palace a heavy incentive to play him over Johnstone, and could lead to a last minute deal for the England man to join Forest.

But the club may struggle to get in a goalkeeper due to Forest being busy with deals for Giovanni Reyna and Yuri Ribeiro.

Forest will have to act carefully to balance the books given their issues with FFP this season.

The club currently have a six point penalty hovering over their head, with an independent commission set to go ahead before the end of the season.

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