Nottingham Forest 'having second thoughts' about signing Rico Lewis
Nottingham Forest are having second thoughts about pursuing a deal for Manchester City star Rico Lewis in the summer transfer window.
The 21-year-old has been firmly on the radar at the City Ground since last summer, but doubts are now creeping in about whether he would be an improvement on their current squad.
Having dropped out of Pep Guardiola's starting XI plans last season, there are doubts about how the versatile full-back's talents would adapt to other styles of play.
Former Man United assistant manager Mick Brown questioned to Football Insider about whether Lewis is the right fit for Oliver Glasner's squad and style of football.
Lewis is very calm and assured in possession, and reads the game well, but can struggle out of possession and lacks the pace or physicality to impose himself on games.
That has raised concerns about whether he could adapt to different styles away from Man City, which is a question mark that has been rasied about a number of their academy graduates.
Could Nottingham Forest make a move for Rico Lewis?
Football Insider revealed on 23 July that Nottingham Forest have been given encouragement in their pursuit of Lewis, with Man City keen to cash in on him this summer.
The 21-year-old has been on the radar of the recruitment team at the City Ground for a while now, and they may now be prepared to make a formal move for his signature.
However, question marks about his ability, position, and development have raised new concerns which could see Forest back away from their pursuit.
"Rico Lewis sums up what I've said for a long time about Man City's academy," Brown told Football Insider.
"The players grow up and develop playing a certain way, it works through the academy ranks and into the first-team at Man City, where they stay in a certain style.
"But watch some of them when they move away from Man City, and they struggle to adapt to systems which are different to what they've learned.
"I think Lewis will be one of those types of players, because he's good on the ball and in possession, but he's not dominant physically and doesn't have great pace.
"There's also a bit of uncertainty about his best position. Is he a right-back, a left-back, a central midfielder, does he play out wide?
"He can do all of that, but I'm not convinced they know where he's best, especially outside of Man City where he's not going to be allowed to do what he does there.
"So for Nottingham Forest or any other club interested in signing him, I expect they will be having second thoughts, because it's not as simple as saying 'he's a good player, let's sign him'.
"Especially with Oliver Glasner coming in, they have to question where Lewis would fit into his system, because I wouldn't say he's particularly well-suited to it."
Why are Nottingham Forest concerned about signing Lewis?
Nottingham Forest's concerns about Lewis are nothing new, as there have been doubts about a number of Man City academy players who have left the club in recent years.
Forest have realised those doubts first-hand with the signing of James McAtee, who has struggled to make his mark after leaving the Etihad for the City Ground.
Brown explained to Football Insider in March that Man City have issues with their academy stars' development given the way they are coahced at youth level.
Their young players are all taught to play a certain way in posession, which works at Man City, but does not always translate when asked to play in a new system or new style.
Those struggles have been clear with numerous players after leaving the Etihad, as they have struggled to adapt to styles outside of what they have learned at City.