Insider shares exact fee behind latest Nottingham Forest transfer: 'They've messed up...'
Nottingham Forest have likely paid as little as £200,000 to sign Shamrock Rovers striker Michael Noonan in January.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Reds have exploited a major error from the Irish side.
The 18-year-old frontman is due at the City Ground for a medical on Wednesday, after the Reds agreed a deal that will see him join them this winter.
Wyness believes that Forest have profited from a "really big mess-up" from Rovers, and have been able to avoid paying Noonan's previous £2million valuation.
Oliver Glasner's side have fought off competition from the likes of Ajax and Benfica to sign the starlet, who holds the record as the UEFA Conference League's youngest ever goalscorer.
Noonan has seven goals from 28 games for Shamrock this season, but will soon be making the move to strengthen Forest's academy squad.
Nottingham Forest right to tap into Irish market
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Forest have effectively been able to sign Noonan for just "training compensation," rather than any actual transfer fee.
The Reds are working to strengthen their academy with future talent, and Wyness believes that the Irish market is one of Europe's best unexplored hotbeds.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, he explained how Forest have been able to exploit Shamrock's error.
"Look, they've done very well to get him. We've had clubs like Ajax and Benfica chasing as well. That's when you know that you've got a potential talent on your hands," Wyness said.
"What's fascinating at the Shamrock Rovers end, there's been a really big mess-up in terms of the paperwork. He's going to be going for just training compensation. So it could be something as low as £200,000.
"For that sort of young talent, that's very, very low indeed. Now, there was a deal agreed previously (with Hoffenheim) for about £2m, but there was a big dispute about the split of that money and where it was going to go.
"Irish football is still probably one of the most undervalued markets, I think, in Europe in terms of young talent.
"Shamrock Rovers, they've got to be asking questions, and I think all the other clubs in Ireland should be asking questions about what they got wrong, because they dropped about £2m just for disorganisation.
"Forest have been the beneficiaries, and they've done very well to get this kid."
Nottingham Forest face Daniel Munoz 'decline'
Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson recenty told Football Insider that Forest's £22m move to sign Daniel Munoz from Crystal Palace is a very low-risk deal.
Recent reports have suggested that the Eagles' data suggests that the Colombian could be about to "decline" in terms of his ability.
However, Borson does not believe that Forest should be concerned about that, and feels that they are guaranteed to get at least two good seasons out of Munoz.
The football finance expert acknowledged that the defender will have almost no re-sale value for the Reds, but should strengthen their squad immediately.