This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
Crystal Palace may need to look elsewhere in their hunt for a right-back this January after reported target Matty Cash signed a new three-and-a-half year deal with Nottingham Forest on Thursday.
What’s the word, then?
Well, according to The Sun (print version, November 15, page 74), the 22-year-old had been scouted by the south Londoners this season as Eagles representatives flock to the City Ground to watch the right-back in action.
Cash has enjoyed an excellent season so far since Sabri Lamouchi transformed him from a midfielder into a full-back upon taking over the squad back in the summer, and the switch has worked wonders.
Impressively, Cash has scored twice and assisted twice from right-back this term across 16 Championship appearances, with his form earning him a fresh contract at the side where he rose through the academy ranks into the first team.
Transfer blow means Steve Parish might have to look elsewhere
It is a well documented fact that the Eagles didn’t replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka back in the summer following the England U21 star’s £50m move to Manchester United, and now they may have to look elsewhere in their hunt for a replacement.
The fact that Cash has signed a new deal makes it either extremely unlikely that he will leave just weeks after putting pen to paper, or it will mean his transfer fee rockets up as Forest now have a stronger negotiating stance against Premier League sides interested in him – Everton and Southampton have also expressed interest in the Forest star, as per the aforementioned report.
There is still plenty of time for the south Londoners to adjust to this news and identify a different target, but it can certainly be considered a significant transfer blow for Palace given the added security Forest now have over the player’s future.
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In other news, Crystal Palace are seemingly keen on a full-back who could be the next Matt Doherty…
