Nottingham Forest Looking Into Two Right-Back Stars

Nottingham Forest Looking Into Two Right-Back Stars

Europa League side Nottingham Forest are "exploring" a move for Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash - five years after the defender left The City Ground for The Villains, according to Daniel Taylor and Jacob Tanswell of The Athletic.

Furthermore, The Reds are in advanced negotiatons with a move for Sevilla defender Jose Angel Carmona, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the club are in "advanced talks" with the 23-year-old Spaniard.

Cash, 28, came through the academy at Nottingham Forest having signed as a 17-year-old following time with Wycombe Wanderers and the FAB Football Academy based at Bisham Abbey.

Carmona, who came through the academy ranks at Los Nervionenses, has emerged as another option that the club may opt for, with the club likely to only sign one of the two players this summer.

Forest Look Into Cashback

Matty Cash's Premier League career stemmed from one moment of misfortune amongst Nottingham Forest's then-Championship ranks.

After an unfortunate injury brought a very early end to starting right-back Tendayi Darikwa's 19/20 campaign, manager of the time Sabri Lamouchi opted to play Cash, then more predominantly a winger and midfielder for the club, on the right of the back line.

The decision proved to be a great one, with Cash dazzling across the English second-tier with his performances on the wider defence with the club, scoring three goals and assisting a further five across 42 league appearances.

With his best position seemingly discovered, Aston Villa opted to bring the Slough-born defender over to Villa Park, where he has since amassed 181 appearances and provided 21 goal contributions in all competitions, playing his part in helping Villa qualify for Europe for the last three years in a row.

However, with Aston Villa pressured by strict PSR rulings, having sold academy product Jacob Ramsey on the 17th of August to Newcastle, the club may be interested in a sale for Cash...for cash.

Matty Cash blocked more shots (5) than any other player on the opening weekend of the Premier League. pic.twitter.com/opq5QiK5Kw

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) August 20, 2025

Nottingham Forest would benefit from the arrival of the Poland international, with the 28-year-old qualifying towards the club's Home-Grown at Club quota for their oncoming Europa League campaign, having been on the books at The City Ground for six years, between the ages of 17 and 23. European rules dictate that clubs must register a minimum number of players who have been at the club for at least three years, between the ages of 15 and 21.

Matty Cash began his senior career with Nottingham Forest, making 141 appearances for the East Midlands outfit, and his potential return is one of several options considered by the club to bolster their full-back department, with a deal for Carmona also being reported as "advanced" within recent hours.

Carmona Deal Reaches Advanced Stages

Nottingham Forest are unlikely to secure the arrivals of both Cash and Carmona, with the club looking at the duo amongst a pool of potential targets this summer, which also includes Rico Lewis.

José Angel Carmona’s stats for Sevilla in LaLiga (2024/25)

35 games
82% pass completion
19 chances created
71% tackles won
178 duels won
68 interceptions made
63% aerial success rate
164 recoveries made

Needed RB cover for Ola Aina seems to be on the way 🇪🇸#NFFC pic.twitter.com/C4u2pz8gYs

— Ethan Lamb (@ethanlamb01) August 20, 2025

The interest in Cash, as reported by The Athletic, does not go any longer at this stage than surveillance and enquiry, but the deal for Carmona, according to Romano, has reached it's advanced stages.

Another one of those options is Rico Lewis of Manchester City, but The Athletic report that the 20-year-old would command a higher fee than Cash, whilst also stating his desire to stay at The Etihad, though Forest continue to explore the deal.

Forest Enjoying Late Window Flurry

With controversial and tiresome proceedings regarding Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace's future in European competitions next season now in the rear-view mirror, The Reds have now pushed their transfer activity into full swing, with several deals being held in limbo whilst court obligations were fulfilled.

With Forest now being confirmed as having been upgraded into a place in the Europa League next season, at Palace's expense, the arrivals of Manchester City youngster and Ipswich Town star James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson, respectively, have been confirmed by the club, as has the signing of Stade Rennais' star stiker Arnaud Kalimuendo, who scored 17 goals in Ligue 1 last season and now joins an attacking regiment complimented by Taiwo Awoniyi, opening-day-brace-scorer Chris Wood and new arrival Igor Jesus.

🚨🌳 Douglas Luiz to Nottingham Forest, here we go! Deal now done for fee around €30m to Juventus.

Understand #NFFC are planning for the Brazilian to travel today destination UK if documents are exchanged in time.

Medical can take place on Thursday if all goes to plan. ✈️🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/vx52RjxTcD

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 20, 2025

The Reds also held interest in Manchester City starlet Rico Lewis, who scored against Forest at Wembley in last season's FA Cup semi-final clash, but a move appears to be growing more and more unlikely, with the 20-year-old starting (and assisting) in City's opening day 4-0 thrashing of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The club are also due to finalise a move for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, with Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein reporting that a loan with a clause-driven future £25.9m deal has now been completed (here-we-go'd, if you will), with the 27-year-old Brazilian due to undergo a medical on Thursday.