NOTTINGHAM FOREST HAS TABLED WIDE SWAP DEAL TO CRYSTAL PALACE FOR THEIR STAR MAN VALUED AT €80M

In one of the most sensational stories of the summer, Nottingham Foresthave officially tabled a huge player-plus-cash swap deal for Crystal Palace’s prized star man — a player currently valued at a staggering €80 million.

The bombshell approach comes just weeks after Oliver Glasner was appointed as Forest’s new head coach on 6 July 2026. The Austrian left Selhurst Park at the end of last season after delivering the most successful period in Crystal Palace’s history, winning the FA Cup, the Community Shield and the UEFA Conference League. Now, in a move dripping with irony and pure ambition, Glasner is circling back to raid the very squad he helped build.

Sources close to the City Ground claim Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has given Glasner full backing to pursue the deal aggressively. The package on the table is said to include two established first-team players from Forest’s squad plus a substantial cash sum that would take the overall valuation close to the €80m mark. Palace, under new head coach Pierre Sage, are understood to be “deeply unsettled” by the proposal.

Glasner’s revenge mission?

Glasner’s return to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest was already one of the biggest managerial stories of the summer. After guiding Palace to three major trophies in just over two years, he declined a new contract and headed north. Many expected him to focus on stabilising a Forest side that finished 16th last season after a chaotic campaign involving five different permanent managers. Instead, he has immediately set his sights on one of the most valuable assets still at his former club.

One insider with knowledge of the talks told us:
“This isn’t just any target. Glasner knows this player inside out. He coached him, developed him, and saw him produce week after week. He believes this is the signing that can transform Forest from mid-table survivors into genuine contenders. The board have given him the green light and the financial muscle to make it happen.”

Pierre Sage, who only officially started work at Crystal Palace in early July after arriving from Lens, is facing an early and very public test of his authority. The Frenchman inherited a squad still largely shaped by Glasner’s methods and recruitment. Losing a player of this calibre so soon would represent a major setback for the new regime, especially with Europa League football on the horizon following last season’s Conference League triumph.

What’s in the swap package?

While the exact names of the Forest players being offered remain under wraps, transfer sources suggest the deal could involve a combination of attacking talent and midfield experience that would give Palace options in their own rebuild. The cash element is reportedly significant enough that Palace would be forced to consider it seriously, even if they would prefer to keep their star man.

Another source close to the situation added:
“Palace are not desperate sellers. But when a club comes in with a package valued at that level, and the manager making the offer is the same man who previously managed the player, it becomes very difficult to simply say no. Sage is under pressure to show he can keep the best talent at the club. This is his first real challenge.”

Fan reaction and the bigger picture

Forest supporters have reacted with a mixture of excitement and disbelief. Many see the move as a clear statement of intent from Glasner and Marinakis. After years of managerial instability, the appointment of a proven winner like Glasner was already seen as a major upgrade. Landing one of Palace’s key performers would elevate expectations even further.

At the other end of the M1, Palace fans are understandably nervous. The club has enjoyed an extraordinary period of success under Glasner, and the thought of one of their standout performers following him to Nottingham is difficult to swallow. Social media has been flooded with speculation about the identity of the player and whether he would even consider the move.

Will the star man force the issue?

All eyes are now on the player himself. Does he see a brighter future under his former coach at the City Ground, or will he remain loyal to Crystal Palace and the new project under Pierre Sage? With the transfer window still open and both clubs looking to shape their squads for a demanding season, the next few days could prove decisive.

Glasner has already made it clear he wants to take Nottingham Forest “to the next level.” This proposed deal is the clearest indication yet of just how ambitious those plans are. For Pierre Sage, it is an early reminder that life after Glasner at Selhurst Park will be anything but straightforward.

One thing is certain: this is no ordinary transfer story. It is personal, it is high-stakes, and it has the potential to reshape both clubs for years to come.

Is Oliver Glasner about to pull off the ultimate statement signing against his old side?
Can Pierre Sage hold on to his star man?
Or are we about to witness one of the most dramatic and emotionally charged swap deals in recent Premier League history?

The coming days will reveal everything. Stay locked in — this saga is only just beginning.