Nottingham Forest have reportedly reached an agreement with Ipswich to sign England Under 21 international Omari Hutchinson for £37.5million.
The news will come as a relief to head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, who, in a striking statement on Friday, bemoaned an imbalance in his squad ahead of the season kick-off.
The Portuguese declared that his side are ‘very far – very, very far’ from where they should be, noting his displeasure with their ‘preparation, planning and the squad’.
Forest have been relatively quiet so far in the window, but had spent money on three new signings ahead of a season where the club will contend with the Premier League and European football.
A late splurge is expected at the City Ground, with the side set to splash £100m on three prospective signings with more in the pipeline.
According to The Athletic, Hutchinson is set to be the first of those targets through the door after Forest agreed a fee with the Tractor Boys for the forward.
Nottingham Forest have reportedly reached an agreement with Ipswich to sign England Under 21 international Omari Hutchinson
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo bemoaned an imbalance in his squad ahead of the new campaign
The 21-year-old made 32 appearances for Kieran McKenna’s side in the Premier League last season, scoring three goals and providing two assists. The Young Lions star, who has been capped twice at senior level for Jamaica, previously spent time at the academies of Arsenal and Chelsea.
Owing to his time spent with the Gunners, some Arsenal fans have taken the opportunity to lament their club’s inability in the transfer market, highlighting the paltry sums they have raked in from player sales.
Remarkably, Arsenal’s record sale remains the £35m transfer that took Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool in 2017.
‘Ipswich Town have just agreed to sell Omari Hutchinson for £37.5m,’ one supporter wrote on X. ‘It’s a higher fee than any sale in the history of Arsenal Football Club.
‘They’re in the Championship. We’re the worst club on the planet when it comes to selling.’
Another said: ‘Edu Gaspar was the Arsenal head of football when Omari Hutchinson was sold for £3m Edu Gaspar is Nottingham Forest head of football that’s paying £37m for him.
‘Make of that what you will.’ The user concluded their message with a ‘crying’ emoji.
Meanwhile, Forest have brought in Dan Ndoye from Bologna in a £34m move, while Brazilian duo Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha arrived from Botafogo for a combined £27million.
In addition to Hutchinson, Forest are also closing on Rennes forward Arnaud Kalimeundo and Manchester City midfielder James McAtee (pictured)
The arrival of Ndoye followed the sale of winger Anthony Elanga, who joined Newcastle for £55m near the start of the window.
In addition to Hutchinson, Forest are also closing on a £26m deal for Rennes forward Arnaud Kalimeundo, as well as finalising details on a £30m package for Manchester City midfielder James McAtee.
McAtee will cost £22m plus £8m in add ons with buy-back and sell-on clauses included for City.
Talks are also continuing with Juventus over a loan move for former Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz.
Forest will begin the new Premier League season at the City Ground on Sunday, where Nuno’s side will host Brentford. Forest failed to win any of their seven first-team pre-season friendlies ahead of the season, drawing five and losing two.
Nuno’s side scored only one goal across the friendlies ahead of the new Premier League season.
