Nottingham Forest transfer news: 'Formal £25.8m bid' sent in bid to sign Ligue 1 forward

Nottingham Forest have reportedly made a formal €30m (£25.8m) in an effort to sign Rennes forward Arnaud Kalimuendo.

Having been promoted to the Europa League on the back of Crystal Palace's demotion to the Conference League, Forest have more leeway in the transfer market.

Jair Cunha, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus have already been acquired to strengthen their defence and attack respectively, but more additions are anticipated.

Chris Wood remains the standout first choice for the number nine role at the City Ground ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

Nevertheless, as per John Percy of The Telegraph, who was commenting on X, Nuno Espirito Santo is eager to add another forward to his squad.

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Forest pushing for Kalimuendo

The report suggests that Forest are making progress in their effort to secure a deal for Kalimuendo before the end of the summer transfer window.

While it is claimed that a move is yet to be finalised, there have been positive signs with regards to its eventual completion.

Kalimuendo has been one of the star forwards in Ligue 1 across the last three seasons, contributing 34 goals and 13 assists.

As many as 17 of those strikes came in 2024-25, inevitably putting the 33-cap France Under-21 international on the radar of bigger clubs.

With just two years remaining on his contract, the 23-year-old will have been anticipating opportunities to move elsewhere, and Forest have seemingly emerged as the frontrunners.

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Would Kalimuendo start at Forest?

Unless Wood does not continue his previous hot form in the Premier League, Kalimuendo would start life at Forest very much as second fiddle to the New Zealand international.

Despite being capable of being deployed as a winger and number 10, his best work has come down the middle of the attack.

Being shorter than 6ft means that he is the complete opposite to Wood and Forest would have to adapt to get the most out of the qualities that he would bring to the team.

Forest will hope to see his numbers improve in the Europa League, Kalimuendo only ever scoring once in 12 appearances in that competition.