According to The Telegraph, Nottingham Forest defender Matty Cash is close to making the switch to the Premier League with Aston Villa.
The 23-year-old was converted from a midfielder into a right-back last term under manager Sabri Lamouchi and he caught the eye with a number of standout displays.
Though Forest missed out on the play-offs in the most disappointing of fashions, Cash had an impressive individual season with an impact on both ends of the playing field.
The club graduate made 42 appearances in the Championship last term and he contributed three goals and five assists in an attacking point of view for Forest.
Meanwhile, he was equally good on the defensive front with more than two tackles and three clearances per game and also won around two aerial duels on average.
Dean Smith’s side had recently failed with an opening bid of around £10m for the versatile player and it now appears that they have come up with a renewed £12m offer, which is likely to be accepted by Forest.
The Championship outfit were aiming to earn at least £15m from the sale of their graduate, but none of the interested clubs including Sheffield United and Fulham have shown the willingness to meet the price tag.
The Blades were in the running to sign Cash earlier this month, but their offer of £10m was knocked back. They have not made a renewed attempt to sign him and the Villains are now in advanced talks to secure his services.
The west Midlands outfit had Ahmed Elmohamady, Frederic Guilbert and Ezri Konsa share the right-back duties last season, but the arrival of Cash should see him become a permanent figure in the role, should he remain consistent with his displays.
While Konsa is a central defender by trade, Elmohamady and Guilbert are both right-back specialists. Elmohamady, who is seven years elder to Guilbert at 32, could be shown the exit door this summer.
Meanwhile, the departure of Cash will leave Forest with Carl Jenkinson and Tendayi Darikwa as the right-back options. The latter has returned to full fitness after missing the entire 2019/2020 season with a serious knee injury.
The Zimbabwe international’s misfortune in pre-season last summer contributed to Lamouchi’s decision to convert Cash into a right-back and he is now on course to get his first taste of Premier League football.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com and Whoscored.com
