Busy Forest land goalkeeper ‘here we go’ as Chelsea outcast ‘arrives’ to ‘undergo medical’

Jason Soutar
Nottingham Forest target Odisseas Vlachodimos holds on to the ball during a match.
Odisseas Vlachodimos holds on to the ball during a match.

Greek goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos is set to join Nottingham Forest from Benfica, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Vlachodimos played for Germany, where he was born, between the age groups Under-15 to U21, but represents Greece at senior level.

After 14 years with Stuttgart, the 29-year-old joined Panathinaikos on a free transfer in January 2016 before a €2.4million switch to Benfica in the summer of 2018.

The Greek international signed a new four-year contract in March but has evidently been tempted by Premier League football.

Having made 225 appearances for Benfica, Vlachodimos will join Nottingham Forest, says Romano.

Pretty much out of the blue, the Italian journalist has said “here we go” with the player on his way to England.

Romano wrote on Twitter: “Odisseas Vlachodimos to Nottingham Forest, here we go! Deal agreed with Benfica right now, it’s all sealed between clubs.

“Player now travelling to the UK for medical tests later today. New goalkeeper for Forest.”

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There is no mention of a fee, though German transfer expert Florian Plettenberg reported earlier this week that Forest made a bid worth €9m (£7.7million).

It will be interesting to see who Steve Cooper chooses as his No. 1 this season having completed the signing of Matt Turner from Arsenal earlier this summer.

Turner has conceded six goals in three Premier League starts this season, though two of those were absolute belters from Bukayo Saka and Gustavo Hamer, respectively.

Meanwhile, Forest are expected to complete the signing of Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi – who has also received Romano’s “here we go” – on Friday.

It will be a permanent deal after the 22-year-old failed to impress on loan at Bayer Leverkusen last season.

Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett has reported that Hudson-Odoi has arrived in Nottingham.

Dorsett says ‘much of the deal’ has been ‘agreed’ with the player ‘due to undergo a medical shortly’.

Hudson-Odoi came through the youth ranks in west London but is now surplus to requirements following his underwhelming loan in Germany.

The England international is out of contract next year and it is unclear how much Forest will pay for his services.

Across 126 appearances for Chelsea, Hudson-Odoi scored 16 goals and made 22 assists.

READ MORE: Chelsea have already obliterated their own record for biggest single-window transfer spend ever