Latest Nottingham Forest news and transfer gossip from NottinghamshireLive looks at reported interest in Will Smallbone
Nottingham Forest are one of a number of teams said to be monitoring Southampton midfielder Will Smallbone.
The 23-year-old spent last season on loan at Stoke City where he played more than 40 games under manager Alex Neil. The Saints academy graduate is now expected to play a significant role in the club’s push for promotion back to the Premier League following the expected departures of Romeo Lavia and James-Ward Prowse
However, the Daily Mail claims Saints are “braced for offers” from the top-flight for Smallbone. In addition to Forest, Luton Town and Bournemouth are also credited with an interest.
Smallbone also has admirers in the Championship after impressing for Stoke last term, Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland and Hull City amongst them.
New Saints boss Russell Martin is said to be a fan of the midfielder, having tried to sign him when he was in charge at Swansea City. Russell said Smallbone can be “like a new signing” on his return from the bet365 Stadium.
The midfielder himself is excited to be part of the club’s pre-season and. get minutes under his belt. He started Saints’ first three friendlies, against Benfica, Goztepe and Reading, before coming off the bench in the defeat to Bournemouth.
