OPINION
Aston Villa are surely destined to fail in their pursuit of Nottingham Forest attacker Joe Lolley as the Championship club won’t reportedly sell him even if a £15million offer is made.
A report in The Sun’s print edition (Sunday June 2nd, page 59) previously claimed that Forest had slapped a £15million on the 26-year-old winger’s head with the Villans deciding whether to make a move.
However it’s worth noting Sky Sports previously reported that the Villans had decided to revive their interest in Lolley this summer.
Yet it seems it doesn’t matter whether the club want Lolley or not, as Forest’s reported stance will surely not change.
Football League World reported on Thursday that a source close to Forest shared the club will not let him go for £15million as the club are not willing to sell the attacker for any price.
Lolley scored 12 goals, while assisting 11, in 51 outings for Forest last season and it’s easy to believe that the Championship club will not let him go.
The 26-year-old was involved in 36% of Forest’s league goals (Source: Transfermarkt) last season, and without him they would clearly struggle.
However it’s disappointing that the Villans look destined to fail in their pursuit of him as he would have been a fan-pleasing signing.
As not only is Lolley a player who makes things happen in games and gets supporters out of their seats due to his bags of tricks, but he was a boyhood fan (Source: Sky Sports) of the club so he would have proven popular.
While some may claim that Forest’s mind could be changed if the Villans put in a big enough bid, if £15million isn’t thought to be enough then surely the amount needed would be way too much to spend on him.