NOTTINGHAM FOREST are eyeing a loan move for keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Boss Nuno Espirito Santo wants the Arsenal and England No 2 as his No 1 but Forest cannot meet the Gunners’ asking price of around £50million.
Instead, City Ground chiefs are willing to gamble and wait on Arsenal letting Ramsdale, 26, leave on loan right at the end of the window.
There have been no suitable bids for Ramsdale so far but plenty of Premier League clubs are looking.
Forest think that paying all of Ramsdale’s wages plus a chunky bonus may give them a real chance.
But it is a high-risk strategy as their other main target, Crystal Palace stopper Sam Johnstone, may have already moved with Wolves, Leicester, Southampton and Bournemouth all currently in the market for a proven keeper.
Palace have a looming problem with Johnstone as Dean Henderson took his place last term and is set to be Oliver Glasner’s first choice going forward.
Arsenal would also need to replace Ramsdale and are struggling to close a deal for Wolves’ reserve Dan Bentley.
The Gunners want a reliable keeper as cover for David Raya but the fee for Bentley is high and he is now being offered terms to stay at Molineux.
That has not put off Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta yet but he is looking at alternatives.
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Meanwhile, Palace want Plymouth’s highly-rated Michael Cooper as a replacement for Johnstone, 31, and they will make an offer if the vacancy comes up.
Cooper, 24, knows of the potential Premier League move and that will give him a lot to think about as Championship rivals queue to bid.
Sheffield United have made an approach but are yet to meet the £3m asking price and may need to sell players or be taken over to raise enough cash.
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