Opinion: Nottingham Forest dealt blow in pursuit of Newcastle man, latest report is bad news
Soccer Football - Championship - Fulham vs Nottingham Forest - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - February 3, 2018 Nottingham Forest's Jack Colback looks dejected Action Images/Adam Holt EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Nottingham Forest want Jack Colback at the City Ground next season, but their pursuit of the Newcastle midfielder has suffered setbacks throughout the summer.
A potential exodus of players at St James’ Park (Ki Sung-yeung, Isaac Hayden, Sean Longstaff) hinted that Colback might have to stay, then Rafael Benitez’s departure also raised uncertainty over his future. Now it appears Colback will be given a fresh start at Newcastle ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.
The 29-year-old impressed in his 18 months at Forest, making a combined 55 appearances in all competitions over two loan spells at the City Ground. Colback had seemed open to a return to the East Midlands club, but he might be staying at Newcastle now.
It’s a major blow for Forest as Colback will be a hard player to replace. The Reds were linked with Massimo Luongo of Queens Park Rangers and Harrison Reed of Southampton, but there hasn’t been an update on either player for some time.
New manager Sabri Lamouchi may have to turn his attentions elsewhere unless Newcastle are willing to part company with the Englishman – Colback’s last appearance for the Magpies was against Barnsley on May 7, 2017, so he may still be surplus to requirements.