Nottingham Forest has secured the signing of striker Manni Norkett following his release from Manchester United.
Forest is of course busy trying to find first-team recruits for their second season back in the Premier League.
Steve Cooper needs reinforcements but Forest is also looking at talents for the future.
Forest has today confirmed the arrival of three new youth prospects ahead of next season.
One of them is attacker Norkett, who has arrived having been let go by Premier League rivals Manchester United.
The Red Devils confirmed in June that Norkett was leaving the club with his academy contract coming to an end.
Forest has pounced with Norkett penning a deal at the City Ground in what will be an emotional move for him.
Who is Nottingham Forest signing Manni Norkett?
Norkett was actually born in Nottingham and spent his formative years just outside of Nottingham, growing up in North Muskham and playing for Collingham as well as Newark Town.
United saw potential in Norkett and snapped him up in 2018, giving him a chance to shine he rejected other clubs.
Claims from the Newark Advertiser at the time of his move suggested that 15 clubs wanted to sign Norkett, including Everton and Wolves.
Norkett’s raw numbers look very good; he scored 19 times in 40 games for United’s Under-18 according to Transfermarkt.
The 18-year-old also spent time out on loan at non-league side Gainsborough Trinity but has now been let go.
Norkett played as a trialist for Forest’s East Midlands rivals Leicester City, featuring in a 2-0 defeat to West Ham United Under-21 in April.
It’s unclear whether Leicester wanted to sign Norkett but Forest has managed to get a deal done, handing him a return to Nottingham.
Norkett has a long journey ahead to break into the Forest’s first team, but it would be quite the story if he can manage it.
