Arthur Theate made the decision to leave Frankfurt as Nottingham Forest contacted him

Nottingham Forest’s summer transfer window is starting to take shape as Vitor Pereira looks to strengthen his squad following a campaign that ended with the club retaining their Premier League status.

The biggest news around the woods this week involves midfielder Elliot Anderson.

Reliable reports suggested that Man City made a bid to open for England, but Forest (David Ornstein) turned it down.

Anderson’s performances last season have cemented his position at the City Ground, but they could be relegated to losing to England’s top-flight rivals.

However, Evangelos Marinakis is unlikely to let him leave on the cheap, with reports suggesting the Greek tycoon could demand up to £120m.

The former Newcastle United midfielder has established himself as a key figure under Pereira, combining strength, intelligence and defensive work rate in the center of the pitch.

Forest’s reluctance to entertain City’s first approach underlines how much they value the 23-year-old and highlights the club’s determination to avoid losing key members of the squad for pennies.

At the same time, Forest continues to explore potential.

Recent reports have linked the club with Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta as Marinakis looks to back up Pereira with a new centre-forward.

Elsewhere, Galatasaray winger Roland Sallai is also said to be a target, while talks with Roma defender Jan Ziolkowski are reportedly ongoing following allegations from Italy that talks between the clubs could take place in the coming days.

Now an alternative defense has emerged.

According to Sky Switzerland reporter Sacha Tavolieri, Nottingham Forest have contacted them about a possible move for Eintracht Frankfurt defender Arthur Theate.

The Belgian has spent the last two seasons with Frankfurt and is understood to be open to a new challenge.

Tavolieri reports that Forest are among the clubs to make enquiries, alongside Bournemouth, as interest in the defender begins to intensify.

Theate is a player with valuable experience in all major European leagues.

Before joining Frankfurt, he built a solid reputation in Italy during his time with Bologna, where his performances attracted widespread attention. His performances in Serie A helped earn him a move to Germany, and he has continued to develop into one of Belgium’s most reliable defenders.

That background explains why interest extends beyond England.

Tavolieri’s report notes that Theate remains highly regarded in Italy, with Serie A clubs continuing to monitor his situation. So the forest seems likely to face competition if it decides to pursue a formal offer.

In Pereira’s view, the appeal is clear.

Theate is capable of operating as a central defender but can fill in at left back if required. That flexibility will give Forest more tactical flexibility, something that often proves valuable during a long Premier League season.

The 26-year-old is also entering what many would consider the prime years of his career. His experience at international level with Belgium and in the European competition will bring more quality to Forest’s defensive unit.

Whether interest grows into substantive negotiations remains to be seen.

With Anderson attracting serious attention from City and several incoming targets being considered, the Forest look set for another busy summer.