Nottingham Forest are pushing to sign Ipswich Town winger Omari Hutchinson in a potential club-record deal worth around £37 million. The 21-year-old has expressed his desire to return to the Premier League to Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna after the club's relegation last season and has not featured in the current campaign.
Forest, who are also close to completing a £30 million move for Manchester City's James McAtee, are confident of beating rivals to Hutchinson's signature. Both Forest and Brentford have had bids rejected, but the former are now optimistic about adding the former Chelsea youngster to their squad. Everton have also shown interest.
A release clause of about £35 million in Hutchinson's contract is thought to have lapsed. Forest made Dan Ndoye their record buy last month, signing the Switzerland winger from Bologna for £35 million to replace Anthony Elanga, who joined Newcastle in a £55 million deal. However, they are ready to eclipse that fee for Hutchinson.
Forest are also pursuing deals for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, Rennes striker Arnaud Kalimuendo, and McAtee, with the England Under-21s midfielder poised for a medical in the coming days. The club have tracked Southampton's Mateus Fernandes, but the Championship side want about £40 million for the Portuguese midfielder.
Chelsea are set to profit from Hutchinson's move, having inserted a clause in the £20 million deal that took him to Ipswich last year entitling them to 25% of any profit from a future sale. Hutchinson, who returned to his boyhood club Chelsea from Arsenal in 2022, was one of Ipswich's best performers last season but scored only three top-flight goals.
