Nottingham Forest have got another one over on Sheffield United it seems, with the Reds set to complete the signing of free-agent, Joe Rothwell.
Rothwell has attracted plenty of interest and is free to leave Rovers after failing to come to terms on a new deal with the Ewood Park outfit. Indeed, United are said to have expressed serious interest in the former Manchester United academy prospect.
However, it looks like it is Forest who won the race for Rothwell, according to TeamTalk. They report how the Reds have agreed a deal with the midfielder, with their Premier League status obviously key in Rothwell making his decision.
News of Forest’s breakthrough will be a blow to Sheffield United boss, Paul Heckingbottom. The Blades boss is looking to get his business done early this summer, and Rothwell was said to be a key target.
CEO Stephen Bettis has said this week that the club will spend money this summer and United are said to have been in talks with one freebie as part of their plans. Whether or not Rothwell is that free-agent, is unconfirmed.
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Our View: Missing Out On Joe Rothwell Always Felt Inevitable For Sheffield United
As soon as Forest won promotion, there was a sense that United were never going to get this deal over the line.
The extra money, coupled with the chance to play Premier League football will have won Rothwell over. And in fairness, you cannot really blame him.
The Blades will find themselves in this situation as the window goes on. Players like Rothwell will have a number of clubs circling, so it’s a case of getting in their first and winning them over. But as soon as PL money becomes involved, things get tricky.
Ultimately, United will have to move on quickly. Rothwell would have been a good signing, but there are others out there.