Forest plan ambitious Bale raid
NOTTINGHAM Forest will make a fresh, ambitious bid to land Tottenham full back Gareth Bale in the January transfer window.
Manager Billy Davies has met with the club's acquisitions' panel to discuss the players he hopes to bring in to bolster his squad.
And Welsh international Bale is at the top of his wish list, which is believed to include at least four new additions.
Forest have previously enquired about the 20-year-old, who cost the London club £5m when he signed from Southampton in May 2007.
But it is understood that chairman Nigel Doughty is prepared to finance a move for the player, who has also attracted interest from Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan, if he can be persuaded to sign for the Reds.
Welsh international team-mates Chris Gunter and Robert Earnshaw could be critical in persuading Bale of the club's ambitions – although if the Serie A giants do express an interest, Forest will almost certainly be facing a losing battle.
Bale has made only two substitute appearances in the top flight this season but Spurs still regard the defender as being a player with great potential, so he would not be available at a cut-price deal.
Forest are also thought to be trailing a central midfielder and a central defender.
Despite the good form of Kelvin Wilson, Luke Chambers and Wes Morgan in defence and the impact of summer signings Paul McKenna and Raddy Majewski – as well as a fit again Guy Moussi – in midfield, Davies wants to ensure Forest have cover for injuries and suspensions.
"I know in my own mind who I want and how many we want," said Davies. "Ideally we want a 24-man squad. We are looking at three or four new players.
"Last January we scraped through by the skin of our teeth (in avoiding relegation) and the summer was very important, when we had great support from the board, but we still missed out on one or two key signings.
"This January is no different. It is very important we are successful, because we will pick up injuries, we will pick up suspensions.
"We have used 18 players as a club this season, which tells you about the squad size we have had here.
"It is remarkable to have achieved what we have achieved using only 18 players.
"We have to add to the quality of the squad we have got in the window."
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by philip rands, immingham
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 9:56AM
“glad two see that the fans have seen what bd can do for this club and now stop getting on his back and suport him and the team also the board good luck two the boys forest fan for over 45 years immingham phil .”
by hugh o donnell, ireland
Sunday, November 29 2009, 1:00AM
“think bd doing great job,hope nd gives him total control of future signings,its looking good since bd took over,back to glory days i hope after so many years strugling,true forest fan through thick and thin”
by Chris, Grantham
Saturday, November 28 2009, 12:45PM
“Bale for Forest!.....That would be a major coup with Inter looking at him. With BD at the helm it seems finally that we have a manager with the passion and foresite that our team truely deserves. Not since the glory days of Ol' Big 'ead have I seen a manager with the passion for winning at Forest. Days of maybe we can do this could be turning into something better. The support of the board is critical and maybe ND is just beginning to see this. Good things on the horizon? I believe so. COME ON YOU REDS.”
by Pete, Nottm
Thursday, November 26 2009, 5:21PM
“As a Forest Die hard things are looking good, from what I have seen of Shorey he would be quality at this level, Bale would be a massive leap forward but the chances are slim. If he is as close to his welsh mates as we hope then there is always a chance.
A QIUICK MESSAGE TO THE BOARD Keep on backing Billy he is doing the right things and has the players in the right frame of mind and thats half the battle.
Keep it up YOU REDS”
by Gwyn Edwards, Aberdare
Wednesday, November 25 2009, 5:11PM
“Hope Nicky Shorey becomes a full time Forest player. Gareth Bale would also make a fantastic aquisition.Great to see the team as a whole doing well. Keep it up BD. And hope that Mr Murphy wont be too much of a bean counter.”