Nottingham Forest are hoping to give their promotion bid a lift by completing the signing of Hull City winger Tom Ince.
Stuart Pearce’s side started the season with a bang, going on an 11-game unbeaten run which saw them reach the summit of the Championship but a stretch of seven matches without a win in the league has seen them drop out of the play-offs for the first this campaign.
With injuries to key players Andy Reid, Jack Hobbs and Chris Cohen stretching the Reds resources, Pearce is desperate to reinforce his squad as they look to reach the Premier League.
And Forest, who suffered a 3-1 defeat to Blackburn despite leading 1-0 at the City Ground, appear to be closing in on a deal to bring England under-21 international Ince to the East Midlands club.
[poll id=”52″]
The former Liverpool youngster, who rejected the chance to join Inter Milan and Monaco, left Blackpool to move to Hull last summer but has so far found first-team opportunities at the KC Stadium limited under Steve Bruce.
But it appears the Tigers are willing to let Ince go out on loan and Pearce, who managed the player while he was boss of England’s Young Lions looks to have won the race for the highly-rated forward.
The 22-year-old has featured just four times for Hull so far this season and was on the scoresheet in his side’s 3-2 League Cup defeat to West Brom.
He has featured 17 times for England’s under-21 side, scoring three goals and has been an integral part of Gareth Southgate’s side’s qualification for next summer’s European Championship.
Forest have drifted out to 10/1 to win the Championship after their poor recent form and are now 5/2 for promotion, but with Ince onboard and possibly more to follow those prices could prove to be very generous.
Especially if any potential new signings can help them rediscover their early season form under the Forest legend.
Will Nottingham Forest win promotion to the Premier League this season? Vote now in our latest Ladbrokes News poll!
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £100 in free bets.
