Sky Sports: Nottingham Forest Bid £25m for ‘Special’ Premier League Star

🚨 Headline: Nottingham Forest submit £25 m bid for “special” Premier League star

According to Sky Sports, Nottingham Forest have made a £25 million bid for a Manchester City midfielder, referred to by Pep Guardiola as “special” — widely understood to be James McAtee, a 22-year-old English prospect struggling for consistent minutes at the Etihad.Reddit+15Football FanCast+15Reddit+15

1. Who is James McAtee — and why is he described as “special”?

• McAtee captained England’s U21s to European Championship glory, marking him out as a rising star.The Sun
• At Manchester City, he has featured 30+ times but only started 8 Premier League games this season — indicating both high potential and limited minutes. Guardiola has publicly praised his technical ability and intelligence on the ball.Football FanCastEPL Index
• Premier League clubs and European rivals have monitored him closely, seeing him as a creative midfield talent capable of stepping into a starting role elsewhere.Nottingham Forest News+3EPL Index+3Football FanCast+3

2. Forest’s bid: £25m and ambition

Sky Sports reports that Nottingham Forest have lodged a £25 m bid for McAtee, a figure each aligned with City’s valuation and market expectations.Nottingham Forest News+14Football FanCast+14EPL Index+14

• This fits a pattern: Forest are now targeting younger talents in the £20–30 m bracket such as Chris Rigg (£25 m), Matteo Cunha, Yoane Wissa, Andreas Pereira, etc.Nottingham Forest News+7Nottingham Forest News+7Sport Viwers+7
• Forest face significant departures—notably Anthony Elanga (£55m move to Newcastle) and Morgan Gibbs-White (£60m to Tottenham, pending legal resolution).Reddit+15Sky Sports+15The Sun+15
• In that context, McAtee is seen as a creative successor in midfield, offering vision, passing range and energy to replace Gibbs-White’s influence.The Sun+10Football FanCast+10The Sun+10

3. Forest’s need for creativity after notable exits

a) Departure of Morgan Gibbs‑White to Spurs

• Tottenham triggered Gibbs‑White’s £60m release clause, but Forest accuse them of an illegal approach, halting communications and triggering legal scrutiny.FourFourTwo+3Cartilage Free Captain+3Wikipedia+3
• Gibbs‑White is a linchpin for Forest—10 assists and 7 goals last season, club captain and fan favourite. Sky reports say his £60m move is paused but likely.WikipediaFourFourTwo

b) Sale of Anthony Elanga

• Winger Anthony Elanga is set to join Newcastle United for ~£55m. Forest reportedly rejected a previous £45m offer.Sky Sports
• Losing two principal attacking talents leaves Forest needing reinforcements across midfield and forward lines.

Hence, a proactive bid for McAtee signals urgency and intent to plug the creative gap—ideally on a lower fee and with potential to grow.EPL Index

4. Competition & valuation dynamics

• While City value McAtee at £25m, other clubs—Fulham, West Ham, Everton, and Bundesliga sides such as Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund—are also interested.Wikipedia+15Football FanCast+15The Sun+15
• Forest must act swiftly amid this competition, though City’s need to balance finances under PSR may make them flexible.EPL Index
• TeamTalk and other outlets suggest Forest are “pushing hardest” to land him, seeing him as a direct replacement for departed creative players.Reddit+11EPL Index+11TEAMtalk+11

5. Likely reaction inside Forest camp

• Manager Nuno Espírito Santo thrives on structured, dynamic midfield play. McAtee’s passing range, creativity and age profile make him a plausible face of Forest’s evolution.
• Sports Director Edu and owner Evangelos Marinakis have flown to Italy to complete deals this summer (e.g. Dan Ndoye for £35m), showing that they back bold statements.The Sun+3The Sun+3The Scottish Sun+3
• The move would align with Forest’s recent approach: investing in young players with resale potential and Premier League readiness.

6. Fan sentiment & pundit reactions

Fan context:

• Forest supporters have responded positively to the progression shown under Marinakis—Morgan Gibbs‑White’s retention and promotion into the Champions League spots have elevated expectations.The Sun+2Nottingham Forest News+2The Scottish Sun+2
• There is hope McAtee’s midfield creativity can offset the loss of key players and reinforce the side’s ambition.

Pundit take:

• While there’s caution over paying £25m for a player with relatively limited top‑flight starts, Sky Sports framing of him as a Guardiola‑endorsed “special” carries weight.Football FanCast
• Analysts stress the key test will be whether Forest can complete the deal amid competition and convince McAtee of consistent playing time and development.

7. Transfer scenarios and next steps

✅ If City accept the offer:

• Forest will need to secure personal terms swiftly.
• McAtee will arrive with expectation to start regularly and fill the creative void.
• Further solutions likely needed: reports also link Forest with Yoane Wissa (£25m bid previously rejected), and Serie A winger Dan Ndoye (agreed £35m deal) as parts of squad refresh.Cartilage Free Captain+2The Sun+2The Sun+2Talksport+4hitc.com+4Sport Viwers+4

❌ If offer is rejected or outbid:

• Forest must pivot quickly—other options include Wissa, Bakayoko, Igor Jesus, or Chris Rigg. Some priced in similar range (£25m).Wikipedia+3Nottingham Forest News+3EPL Index+3
• Manager Espirito Santo likely will push for alternatives to maintain European competitiveness.

8. Deeper context of £25m bids in Forest’s strategy

Forest’s recent roster moves fit a recurring theme:

• £25–28 m bids feature regularly—be it for Nketiah, Gimenez, Wissa, McAtee, or Chris Rigg, all promising talents in that valuation sweet-spot.TEAMtalk+1Reddit+1
• Historically, Gimenez linked with £28–30m bids, Wissa had £25m rejected, and Forest remain active in multiple sands of £25m talent.hitc.comSport ViwersTEAMtalkNottingham Forest NewsSports Mole

This suggests £25m is a practical price-point for Forest to secure high upside, relatively unproven or underutilised Premier League/Eredivisie/Serie A talents — balancing risk and reward.

9. What this means for Nottingham Forest’s season

• Champions League ambition: Forest currently sit third, eyeing European competition next season. Investment in midfield creativity is vital to sustain this progress.Nottingham Forest NewsNottingham Forest News
• Squad evolution: With two key players departing (Elanga, Gibbs‑White), the shift to youthful, energetic alternatives like McAtee or Ndoye marks a transition toward a new core.
• Long‑term identity: The club remains selective — post plus-no-release contract with Gibbs‑White, big signings like Ndoye (£35m) and now a chase for McAtee underline both ambition and vision.EPL Index

10. ✅ Verdict: A bold £25m bid that could reshape Forest

• If completed, it sends a signal that Forest believe in building talent and identity, not simply chasing established names.
• McAtee, dubbed “special” by Guardiola, offers creativity and age for future scaling.
• The bid underscores Forest’s strategic shift toward self‑reinvention—replacing outgoing stars with strategic investment into youth and potential.

🧾 Recap: Key Takeaways

📌 Final Thoughts

Sky Sports’ report that Nottingham Forest have tabled a £25 million bid for James McAtee is a statement of ambition. Faced with the imminent exits of Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga—but buoyed by European qualification chances—Forest appear committed to refreshing their squad around youth and technical dynamism.

If McAtee joins, he will be expected to become a creative engine in midfield, shifting the team’s identity post-Gibbs-White era. Should the bid fail, Forest remains active in the market, keeping close tabs on similar-value targets to avoid losing momentum.

That said, the bid aligns with a transfer strategy steeped in calculated risk and forward-thinking: securing homegrown, skilful players at a relatively modest fee—£25 m that could pay dividends.

Let me know if you’d like a similar deep dive on any of the alternative targets (Wissa, Rigg, Bakayoko), or Forest’s Premier League vs. European transition plan.