Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey is of interest to Nottingham Forest.
Forest’s interest in Ramsey comes with Tottenham Hotspur bidding for their attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.
The Athletic previously reported that Tottenham pushed to get Ramsey last summer but could not complete a deal.
The 24-year-old is a Villa academy graduate, representing pure bookable profit for the West Midlands club if he is sold. While Ramsey’s salary is manageable, a sale would further help Villa in their battle to reduce their wage bill below 70 per cent of overall turnover, complying with UEFA’s guidelines and, in July, Villa were fined by UEFA for breaching its financial rules. At the start of the summer, Villa’s wage bill stood in the mid-eighties, though have been gradually trimming this figure since.
However, Ramsey would serve as ‘club-trained’, which Villa need when registering players in this season’s squad for their Europa League campaign. It remains to be seen as to whether Villa would sanction a sale, with Unai Emery a firm advocate of the midfielder’s ability and the club wanting to move on other players, such as Alex Moreno, Leander Dendoncker and Leon Bailey.
Ramsey made his league debut in September 2020 as a 19-year-old and has made 167 senior appearances for Villa. Last season, the Englishman played 45 games across all competitions. He registered one goal and five assists over 29 appearances in the Premier League, having struggled with injuries.
The Athletic reported on July 10 that Forest midfielder Gibbs-White was set for a medical at Tottenham, in line to follow wingers Anthony Elanga and Ramon Sosa leaving the club this summer.
‘Ramsey would perfectly fit Forest’s recruitment model’
Analysis by Nottingham Forest correspondent Paul Taylor
Forest’s need to bolster their attacking arsenal was already increased by the £52m sale of Elanga to Newcastle.
Although it is Gibbs-White who Ramsey would be more of a replacement for. It remains to be seen whether Gibbs-White will complete a move to London, after Forest were upset by the manner of Tottenham’s £60m bid for their most influential player.
But the versatile attacking player, who can play wide on the left or in the number 10 role that Gibbs-White has made his own, would perfectly fit Forest’s recruitment model, as a relatively young player who would still improve.
Ramsey was on the radar of England manager Thomas Tuchel last season and playing regular football at Forest could aid his international ambitions.
The fact that he can play in more than one position would also be an important factor for head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, who values such attributes in his players.
Forest have already bolstered their options in the final third with the addition of Igor Jesus from Botafogo, while they remain keen on Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.
But Ramsey could also be an astute addition, if the club can get a deal over the line.
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