Nottingham Forest will have Joe Worrall, Yohan Benalouane, Michael Dawson, Tobias Figueiredo, Alexander Milosevic and Michael Hefele to choose from at centre-back next season, but the Reds may part company with one or two this summer which could lead to a new face being brought in – Hefele and Dawson are still struggling with respective injuries.
James Collins will be a free transfer in the coming weeks when his contract at Ipswich Town expires. The Tractor Boys suffered relegation from the Championship this season and could lose a number of their best performing and high-earning players over the summer. Collins only joined in January is in 35 years of age, but he has a wealth of experience that could prove useful.
The Welsh centre-back has made only six appearances for Ipswich this season but is in talks with the club over a contract extension. Whether he stays at Portman Road remains to be seen, however. Forest could capitalise if they feel the need to bolster their backline, as Collins would surely jump at the chance to stay in the Championship. Time will tell.
Regardless, he could be an asset to Martin O’Neill, who he made 37 appearances for at Aston Villa in 2009/10.
Crippy Cooke’s previous article
Opinion: Nottingham Forest may have to pay £5m and £0.2m wages to sign right-winger
