Anderlecht goalkeeper Hendrick van Crombrugge has admitted he would be tempted by a summer move to Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest after turning down Steve Cooper’s side during the January transfer window.
And there is a very real chance that another goalkeeper will be high on Cooper’s wishlist.
Dean Henderson is expected to return to Manchester United when his loan deal expires. Keylor Navas is also at the City Ground on a short-term basis, and Club America have already confirmed their intention to bring the multi-Champions League winner to Mexico.
Nottingham Forest, before bringing in Navas, attempted to sign Van Crombrugge from Belgian giants Anderlecht.
The 30-year-old captain opted to stick around instead. And the reward for his loyalty? A place on the bench; Van Crombrugge falling behind the outstanding Bart Verbruggen in the Anderlecht pecking order.
Nottingham Forest may return for Hendrick van Crombrugge
And if Forest were to renew their interest some six months on, Van Crombrugge would be tempted to make a very different decision this time around.
“If Nottingham comes back at the end of the season, I would certainly think about it,” the one-time Belgium international tells Radio Radzinski.
Harry Toffolo, the left-back Nottingham Forest signed ‘from Huddersfield Town after last year’s Championship play-off final, could have moved in the other direction but he too saw a January switch collapse.
“(Missing out on Toffolo is) a problem in my opinion,” explained Anderlecht CEO Jesper Fredberg. “He had the perfect characteristics to fill a gap that we had. I was very annoyed that it didn’t happen.
“Hendrik himself chose not to go to the Premier League. As managers, we can try to find solutions, but we cannot decide for the players. That’s just how it is. Hendrik is a good boy, and we are happy with him as a keeper.”
Nottingham Forest was also rejected by Sampdoria’s Emil Audero. Things haven’t exactly gone to plan for him either since January; Samp was relegated from Serie A earlier this month.
