Report: £13m playmaker wanted by newly-promoted side just two years after Liverpool made him a priority target

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Nottingham Forest have made a bid for Houssem Aouar, according to reports. It comes two years after Liverpool prioritised the player.

This comes from L’Équipe. They claim that Nottingham Forest have made an offer to Lyon for Houssem Aouar. The offer has been rejected, however, as it fell short of the asking price.

There is a belief that this is just their first offer, though. Forest will continue in their efforts to sign Aouar this summer before the transfer window closes in September.

Forest make Houssem Aouar bid

It will never cease to amaze us just how far Aouar has fallen in the last two years. The Mirror claimed back in 2020 that he was a priority transfer target for Liverpool. The Echo said they’d scouted him for years, such was their belief in his talent.

Liverpool weren’t able to get him, however – likely because Lyon wanted £54m for Aouar (the Telegraph).

But we really wanted him at Anfield. Aouar put in some fantastic performances in 2020, particularly against Manchester City as Lyon knocked them out of the Champions League. He was one of the world’s brightest young midfielders and appeared destined for stardom.

And now newly-promoted Nottingham Forest believe they can pick him up. Just two years later, Foot Mercato have the asking price at £13m and there don’t appear to be many takers. Forest are clearly one – but even they’re trying to negotiate a better fee.

It’s a crazy fall from grace for Aouar, who in another reality could have joined Liverpool for a big-money fee. In fact, the pandemic may have been the sole reason that the Reds didn’t spend big to get him at the start of that summer. Their two targets were said to be Aouar and Timo Werner but they’d pass on both because of a precarious financial position.

And what a decision that has turned out to be. Neither player has hit the expected heights and Liverpool did well to save their money.

But we’ll admit to wanting this Forest deal to go through. Seeing what Aouar can do in the Premier League is a massive curiosity, two years on from strong Liverpool interest.