Signing a left-back is still on the agenda for Nottingham Forest this summer, with the Reds being linked with Tom Lockyer, Caner Cavlan, Martin Olsson and Nathan McGinley. One player Martin O’Neill should consider is Brendan Galloway – a player they were linked with in 2017. There’s been no new contract news in the last few weeks which suggests he’s available this summer.
The 23-year-old is on the periphery at Everton and could be attainable on loan after falling behind Leighton Baines and Lucas Digne in the pecking order. He’s impressed with the u23s as they won the Premier League 2 title last season but has a difficult task to return to the first-team.
Galloway has made 21 appearances in all competitions since joining from MK Dons in 2014 but hasn’t turned out for the Toffees in three-and-a-half years. His last outing was against Carlisle United in the FA Cup on January 31, 2016. The former England u21 international earns £23k-per-week at Goodison Park and is in the final year of his deal.
He’s expected to leave Everton this summer or next and Forest could capitalise on the situation. Jack Robinson and Ben Osborn can operate in the left-back role next season, but O’Neill has used Robinson at centre-back and Osborn in midfield, so a new face is needed.
Galloway has already endured two failed loan spells at West Bromwich Albion (August 22, 2016 – April 9, 2017) and Sunderland (July 5, 2017 – May 31, 2018), but he could be open to a third temporary move to get regular first-team football in 2019/20.
