Sabri
Lamouchi has confirmed midfielder Ben Watson is unlikely to return to
Nottingham Forest, following the end of his contract.
The
skipper was a key player for the Reds last season but saw his deal come to an
end this summer, with no new one agreed.
Although Lamouchi
would like him to put pen to paper at the City Ground again, personal
circumstances mean Watson is keen for a move further south, with QPR having
been rumoured as a potential destination.
“Ben is a
different case,” Lamouchi told NottinghamshireLive.
“He had
an amazing season - probably one of the best midfielders in the Championship.
“He was
fantastic.
“But for
personal reasons - his family is living in London - he is looking at a club in
London.
“We keep
in touch with Ben and the last time I spoke with him was last week.
“Probably
the discussion with the (other) club is thinking to sign (him). It’s not done
yet.
“We will
see what happens with him.
“He was
my captain and my brain on the pitch, so just for that, ‘thank you so much’.
“If we
can do something with him, we will do it. If not, I will just say ‘all the
best’, because he was a fantastic player and a fantastic captain.”
If Watson
does indeed sign elsewhere, though, Lamouchi says he is not short of leaders in
the dressing room.
“We have
Michael Dawson, Lewis Grabban, Joe Worrall and Samba Sow,” he said.
I signed Ben Sheaf in Football Manager. He did ok for us, though never really established himself as a first team player (admittedly in the Championship) and eventually left on a free after 3 season.
Ridiculous we are once again in a position where a young player had a year left.
The young talent we’ve lost throughout Roland’s reign has been appalling. Hopefully with Sandgaard in place with a proper SMT, this will be a thing of the past.
Comments
Ozil to Gillingham
By Sarah Clapson, Nottingham Forest correspondent
18:00, 3 SEP 2020
Sabri Lamouchi has confirmed midfielder Ben Watson is unlikely to return to Nottingham Forest, following the end of his contract.
The skipper was a key player for the Reds last season but saw his deal come to an end this summer, with no new one agreed.
Although Lamouchi would like him to put pen to paper at the City Ground again, personal circumstances mean Watson is keen for a move further south, with QPR having been rumoured as a potential destination.
“Ben is a different case,” Lamouchi told NottinghamshireLive.
“He had an amazing season - probably one of the best midfielders in the Championship.
“He was fantastic.
“But for personal reasons - his family is living in London - he is looking at a club in London.
“We keep in touch with Ben and the last time I spoke with him was last week.
“Probably the discussion with the (other) club is thinking to sign (him). It’s not done yet.
“We will see what happens with him.
“He was my captain and my brain on the pitch, so just for that, ‘thank you so much’.
“If we can do something with him, we will do it. If not, I will just say ‘all the best’, because he was a fantastic player and a fantastic captain.”
If Watson does indeed sign elsewhere, though, Lamouchi says he is not short of leaders in the dressing room.
“We have Michael Dawson, Lewis Grabban, Joe Worrall and Samba Sow,” he said.
“They are my four captains for the next season.”
Might Millwall be interested?
I'm sure Bowyer will have born that in mind
Curbs appointed as DoF to take pressure off LB? Now that would be something.
Celtic transfer chief Nick Hammon reportedly scouted Charlton’s Alfie Doughty at the weekend.
The Sun report there’s “major interest” from Parkhead in the 20-year-old midfielder.
Doughty was named Charlton’s Young Player of the Year for 2019/20 back in July.