Blow for Nottingham Forest as chairman dismisses ‘nonsensical’ £13m transfer claim
The Zenit St Petersburg chairman has dismissed “nonsensical” reports that Wilmar Barrios could leave the Russian Premier League champions for Nottingham Forest this month.
As Bayern Munich join Paris Saint-Germain in pursuit of Steve Cooper’s number one goal in midfield – a deal for PSV enforcer Ibrahim Sangare that grows more imaginative with each passing day – Nottingham Forest appear to be doing the sensible thing and turn its attention to alternative options.
Accordingly Fabrizio RomanoThe two-time European champions made a £3.5million bid for Wilmar Barrios last week. However, there is still a significant gap between Forest’s offer and Zenit’s assessment. The Russian giants want at least £13m.
And when questioned about those reports, Chairman Alexander Medvedev was quick to dismiss suggestions that Barrios could still land at the City Ground before the window closes in about three weeks.
Nottingham Forest makes an offer to Wilmar Barrios
“We don’t comment on nonsense,” says Medvedev Sports24.
Barrios, who has 54 caps for Colombia, has amassed no fewer than five Russian Premier League titles since joining Zenit St Petersburg from Argentina giants Boca Juniors in 2019. The powerful 29-year-old should be available for significantly less than Sangare, who managed to get a £32million release clause in his PSV contract.
On the other hand, it remains to be seen whether Nottingham Forest are willing to shell out an eight-figure sum for a man who, while having vast experience on and off the pitch, will celebrate his 30th birthday in October.
“Four million euros for Barrios is not enough,” says former Russian international Dmitry Sennikov RB Sports. “There is no point in contemplating such an offer. If (Forest) offers €15m why not let Barrios go?
“But 4 million euros is just ridiculous. He’s a top-notch soccer player.”
Zenit are unlikely to be in a hurry to sell Barrios as Saudi Arabia have already accepted a mega offer for Malcom, last season’s top scorer and talisman.
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