Hudson-Odoi responds to Ola Aina’s message after Nottingham Forest latest
Nottingham Forest are doing their best to tie down several of last season’s star players to new contracts this summer.
Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side took the Premier League by storm last season to recorded a seventh-placed finish after spending much of the campaign in a Champions League spot, and European football awaits.
Forest‘s squad has since been picked apart with almost £100million in sales so far this summer, over half of which came when winger Anthony Elanga signed for Newcastle United in a £55m deal on 11 July.
Morgan Gibbs-White looked set to raise a further £60m when Tottenham pounced to trigger his release clause, but Evangelos Marinakis stepped to halt the transfer and eventually secured a complete U-turn.
Marinakis’ intervention and claims that Tottenham made an illegal approach for Gibbs-White culminated in the playmaker penning a new contract at the City Ground, a significant achievement for the Reds.
Aina posts Nottingham Forest update after contract news
Gibbs-White’s breakthrough deal is one of the top signings of the summer, but Forest had already made clear that they wanted to tie Ola Aina, Neco Williams and Callum Hudson-Odoi down to new contracts.
Aina’s future is secure at the City Ground after he signed a three-year extension until 2028, but Hudson-Odoi is yet to reach an agreement with the Reds after he managed five goals and three assists last term.
Both Hudson-Odoi and Murillo are two of the key players yet to pen new deals at Forest, but the duo are focused on the task at hand as the Reds’ training camp in Portugal continues ahead of the new season.
Hudson-Odoi was one of several Forest players to like his fellow wideman Aina‘s latest Instagram post (30 July), which showcased the work he’s also been putting himself through across pre-season.
Hudson-Odoi is Nottingham Forest’s next contract priority
Football Insider Verdict
Mick Brown told Football Insider back in April that Forest planned to resolve Hudson-Odoi’s future by opening contract talks as early as possible this summer, but other players have taken priority thus far.
Hudson-Odoi was tipped for a return to the England setup after his former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel took charge of the Three Lions, and he’ll be keen to make good on that promise despite being snubbed.
Forest’s first foray on the continent in 29 years will give Hudson-Odoi and Gibbs-White’s partnership in Forest’s attack more exposure next season, but the 24-year-old’s contract is one aspect of their summer transfer business that the Reds can’t afford to delay.