Nottingham Forest open talks to sign 'extraordinary' Gustavo Puerta - report
Nottingham Forest have reportedly entered talks with Racing Santander to sign Colombian international midfielder Gustavo Puerta.
Oliver Glasner is aiming to bolster his midfield ranks this summer after Elliot Anderson's big-money move to Man City.
He has been boosted by key man Ibrahim Sangare penning a new contract, while Xaver Schlager has arrived after leaving RB Leipzig.
More targets are believed to be on the Reds' radar, such as Lucas Bergvall, who has expressed a desire to leave Tottenham this summer.
Portuguese journalist Seb Sousa Pinto took to X on Tuesday afternoon to reveal that Forest are interested in signing Racing Santander star Puerta and have opened talks over a move.
He already has experience of the English game under his belt after an impressive spell at Hull City, for which he earned high praise from then-Tigers boss Ruben Selles.
Ruben Selles thinks Gustavo Puerta has a 'huge influence' on every game
Puerta played a bit-part role in Bayer Leverkusen's historic unbeaten 2023-24 Bundesliga-winning campaign before joining Hull on loan for the following season.
He struggled for minutes under Tim Walter, but was handed more game time and became a regular under Ruben Selles after his December appointment.
The all-action midfielder made 30 Championship appearances as they avoided relegation, then joined second-tier Spanish side Santander last summer.
He helped fire them to La Liga as title-winners last season, then played a key role in Colombia's run to the World Cup round of 16.
Selles was interviewed by radio station Tiro Al Arco following the tournament to speak about his experience managing Puerta, and had nothing but good things to say.
He said (via Infobae): "We arrived at Hull City in December (2024) and Gustavo wasn’t featuring much after joining during the summer transfer window. When we analysed the squad, we knew that Puerta could be a game-changer.
“First and foremost, he’s a good guy; he plays with great intensity, both on and off the ball. He always wants to win and compete, so that’s the spirit you need in a dressing room – players with that ambition, but who are also capable of winning people over by being a good person and always putting the team first.
"Gustavo is a player who has a huge influence on the game and on his teammates. He never stops communicating throughout the match; he has that ability to see the game from the inside, to spot where the spaces are, to bring the team together when on the ball, to create chances and to organise play.
“When we were working in England, he was doing an extraordinary job, but he lacked the ability to communicate as well as he does in Spanish. I think Racing’s style of play, the team, the manager, the confidence and that ability to communicate 100 per cent are what have enabled him to make such a massive leap this year."
How is Forest's midfield shaping up for the new campaign?
Puerta would surely be a welcome addition to the City Ground this month, given Forest's lack of signings so far this summer.
Sangare, Schlager, Nico Dominguez and Ryan Yates are forming the core of Glasner's central midfield options as it stands.
Sources have revealed to Football Insider that Newcastle will outbid Forest in their quest to land Bergvall, with the Swede expected to leave Tottenham soon.
James McAtee may soon be left as their only attacking midfield player, with several top clubs tracking Morgan Gibbs-White's availability.