Nottingham Forest confirm signing of Leeds man on a free transfer

Nottingham Forest have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Will Brook after Leeds United announced he would not be handed a new contract at Elland Road – despite being a regular name on the Under-21 team sheet last season.

Brook, 19, was normally seen on the bench for the 21’s last season as the reserves gained an instant return to the top tier of Premier League 2 football – after relegation the season prior. Brook never actually played for the reserves.

Indeed, Leeds have Kris Klaesson as their Under-21 goalkeeper – with Joel Robles and Illan Meslier in the first team. Dutch stopper Dani van den Heuvel then returned from a long-term neck injury, ahead of Pontefact-born Brook.

That saw Brook released on a free transfer, a year after signing professional terms at Elland Road. He joined a few others in seeing their contracts come to an end, on Friday. Ben Andreucci has joined League One side Bolton.

So, Brook has left Leeds – along with Scottish winger Stuart McKinstry – and now, Nottingham Forest have posted confirmation that Brook is one of three academy signings they have made. It is unclear how long he has signed for.

Nottingham Forest confirm signing of goalkeeper Brook after Leeds exit

Leeds made the right decision to let Brook go. Keeping him would have stalled his career, especially with Klaesson still in place – and van den Heuvel showing plenty of potential despite his incredibly worrying injury last summer.

Now, Brook will be hoping to make an impression at Forest and break into the Under-21 side. But, he is not the only goalkeeper to join the Forest reserves – with Harry Griffiths one of the other three, joining the club from Wimbledon.

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Latest Nottingham Forest news from NottinghamshireLive as Jesse Lingard talks about his next move

Jesse Lingard has not ruled out a move to Saudi Arabia this summer, following his departure from Nottingham Forest.

The former Manchester United man was released by the Reds at the end of last season, after enduring an injury-hit campaign at the City Ground.

He is now a free agent and says he is “considering all options”.

“I’ve never ruled any team out, any club out, so for me it’s picking the right team. It’s got to be right for me,” he told Sky Sports. “I just want to play football at the end of the day.”

“The project has got to be well-suited for me. The team’s got to be good and in the right direction. Literally, it’s just regular game time.

“I’m still hungry, I’m working hard and I’m going to be ready when called upon.”

“Saudi Arabia are doing big things. In the next year or so, the next couple of years, it will be one of the hot spots to go to,” he added.

I’m not really surprised big-names are moving out there, they’re doing big things.

“It’s something I’m obviously going to consider as well, I’ve not ruled that out either.

“It’s just got to be right for me at the end of the day.”

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Star transfer-listed after admitting he’d ‘think about’ Nottingham Forest move

Hendrick van Crombrugge is up for sale at Anderlecht shortly after admitting that he would be open to joining Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. 

Hindsight, as they say, is a wonderful thing.

Hendrick van Crombrugge would no doubt agree. Shortly after rejecting a January switch to Nottingham Forest, the experienced Anderlecht captain lost his place between the sticks to Bart Verbruggen.

And if Van Crombrugge had hoped that Verbruggen’s impending £17 million switch to Brighton and Hove Albion would hand him the opportunity to reclaim his place as Anderlecht’s number one goalkeeper, he was very much mistaken.

According to Het Nieuwsblad, the 30-year-old is now on the transfer list

Whether Nottingham Forest renew their interest remains to be seen. Van Crombrugge, per The Sun, rebuffed Forest’s advances five months ago for personal reasons but he might not make the same decision again.

“If Nottingham Forest come back at the end of the season, I would certainly think about it,” the one-time Belgium international told Radio Radzinski a few weeks ago.

Nottingham Forest need at least one new goalkeeper

The Leuven-born glovesman has played 120 games in four years at Anderlecht.

One the biggest clubs in Belgium are keen to cash in rather than farm him out on loan, however; Het Nieuwsblad reporting that Genk’s hopes of signing Van Crombrugge on a temporary basis have been squashed by the RSCA Stadium bosses.

At Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, Van Crombrugge would likely have to be content with life as a number two. Much like the last few months at Anderlecht.

Forest are close to bringing Dean Henderson back to the City Ground from Manchester United for around £15 million. There remains a place in Cooper’s squad for another goalkeeper, however, with Keylor Navas on his way back to Paris Saint-Germain (Manchester Evening News).

In addition to Van Crombrugge, Forest are also keeping tabs three Italy-based stoppers; Michele di Gregorio (Monza), Emil Audero (Sampdoria) and Luis Maximiano (Lazio).

Trabzonspor skipper Ugurucan Cakir is another under consideration.