Nottingham Forest Close In On Napoli Striker Lucca

Nottingham Forest are making headlines once again as the club intensifies its search for attacking reinforcements before the transfer window slams shut. With the Premier League season entering a critical phase, Forest—currently sitting 17th on the table—are eager to bolster their squad, address their goal-scoring woes, and stave off the threat of relegation. The name on everyone’s lips right now? Lorenzo Lucca, the towering Italian striker whose future is set to be decided within hours.

The urgency is palpable at the City Ground. Forest’s five-point cushion above West Ham United offers little comfort, especially with the bottom half of the table as tight as it is. The club’s attacking output this season has left much to be desired. Brazilian forward Igor Jesus, despite netting eight goals in all competitions, has managed just one in the Premier League across 21 appearances. The expected return of last season’s 20-goal man Chris Wood has been delayed by a lingering knee injury, leaving Forest short on proven firepower. The decision to loan out summer signing Arnaud Kalimuendo to Eintracht Frankfurt only deepened the void up front—a move that, according to The Athletic, raised plenty of eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.

Enter Lorenzo Lucca. The 25-year-old, currently on loan at Napoli from Udinese, has emerged as Forest’s top transfer target. After registering a prolific 14 goals in 36 games for Udinese last term, Lucca’s stint at Napoli has been less eye-catching—just twice on the scoresheet in 23 appearances, with only 595 minutes played. Yet, his physical presence—standing at a towering 6ft 7in—offers Sean Dyche’s side a dimension they sorely miss. As noted by Paul Taylor, Forest’s correspondent, “Lucca is a player who can replicate the kind of physical presence that Wood contributed as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side finished seventh last season.”

Forest’s attacking struggles have been well documented. Despite their best efforts, only Wolverhampton Wanderers have scored fewer goals this campaign. The Tricky Trees have managed to score in just four of their last six league games, drawing a blank 11 times—more than any other side in the division. Their goalless draw with Arsenal last weekend was a case in point: plenty of effort, but no end product. The statistics are telling—Forest have attempted the most crosses in the league (532), but with a completion rate that ranks just 17th, those deliveries have resulted in a meager five goals. It’s clear why a player like Lucca, who “thrives when he gets on the end of balls into the box,” is so appealing to the club’s hierarchy.

The deal itself has been a subject of intense negotiation. According to multiple sources, Forest and Napoli have agreed on a loan fee worth €1 million, with an option to buy Lucca for €35-40 million. The transfer saga is complicated by the fact that Napoli’s obligation to buy Lucca from Udinese becomes active in February, effectively making the Serie A giants the gatekeepers of his future. Yet, all signs point toward a resolution soon, with Lucca reportedly set to fly from Naples to England for a medical on Thursday evening. Italian journalist Gioker Musso described Forest as the “most likely destination” for the striker, while The Athletic confirmed that the agreement is all but finalized.

But Lucca isn’t the only name on Forest’s shopping list. The club has also been linked with centre-back Jayden Oosterwolde and, perhaps more intriguingly, Napoli’s Uruguayan left-back Matias Olivera. Following the termination of Oleksandr Zinchenko’s loan, Forest are in the market for a backup to Neco Williams. Olivera, who has made 119 appearances for Napoli, winning three trophies and chipping in with three goals and eight assists, is pushing hard for a move to the Premier League. According to Calciomercato, he has handed in a transfer request in an effort to force through the switch. Napoli are holding firm on their £25 million valuation, but Olivera’s determination is clear. His former teammate Marco Rui called him a “class act,” and with 33 caps for Uruguay, Olivera would bring proven quality to the Forest ranks.

Still, priorities are priorities. As the Forest faithful know all too well, the need for a reliable striker is paramount. With Igor Jesus set to miss the Europa League clash against Braga, the pressure is on to get the Lucca deal over the line. The hope around the City Ground is that both Olivera and a new striker can be secured before the window closes, but if the budget only allows for one, the consensus is clear: a new talisman up front must take precedence.

The transfer window drama doesn’t end there. There have been whispers of a possible swap deal involving Lucca, Mathias Olivera, and Dan Ndoye, though nothing concrete has materialized. Forest’s transfer activity has been frenetic, with other striker targets such as Mehdi Taremi and Jorgen Strand Larsen also under consideration. The club’s willingness to act decisively in the market reflects the urgency of their situation—a Premier League campaign teetering on the edge, and a Europa League adventure still alive with upcoming fixtures against Braga (away) and Ferencvaros (home), sandwiched around a crucial Premier League trip to Brentford.

For Forest supporters, the coming hours and days promise to be tense but potentially transformative. The arrival of Lucca would signal a bold move to address the club’s attacking shortcomings, while Olivera’s addition would provide valuable depth and experience at left-back. As one fan remarked, “It’s quite refreshing that the player is very keen to come to Forest this month.” That kind of enthusiasm could be exactly what Forest need as they fight to secure their Premier League future and make waves in Europe.

So, will Forest’s January business be enough to spark a turnaround? Only time will tell. But with the transfer window ticking down and key decisions looming, the club’s fate—and perhaps that of Lorenzo Lucca—hangs in the balance. For now, the City Ground waits with bated breath, hoping that new arrivals can deliver the goals and grit needed for the battles ahead.