Nottingham Forest could swoop for Ladislav Krejči, the Czech Republic and on-loan Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder, if they retain their Premier League status next season, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The 26-year-old still might leave Molineux this summer, when the club’s impending relegation from the top-flight is eventually confirmed, if Fosun International look to cut their cloth accordingly in the second-tier.
And that has alerted Vitor Pereira, Forest’s head coach, to the possibility of once again working with a player he relied heavily upon during an eventful 11 month spell in the Black Country which came to an end in November.
Although he primarily operates as a defender, Krejči can also be deployed in midfield which, with both Murillo and Elliot Anderson attracting interest from elsewhere, makes him a potentially desirable option for a club facing a busy transfer window whichever division they find themselves in.
Confirmed as his country’s new captain, Krejči is set to be a man in demand ahead of the World Cup after helping his country reach the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
His parent club, Girona, are likely to try and cash-in on his rising profile should a suitable offer arrive.
And Pereira, who took charge at the City Ground when Sean Dyche was sacked by owner Evangelos Marinakis, wants Forest to explore the possibility of brokering an agreement should they survive.
New Beginning
After a tumultuous campaign in the east Midlands, they are currently two places and three points above the drop zone and seemingly locked in a three-way battle with Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United to avoid sliding into the Championship.
Krejči started his career with Zbrojovka Brno before securing a high-profile move to Sparta Prague, where he won two Czech Cup and First League titles.
That earned him a long-term contract at Estadi Montilivi, which had been scheduled to run until 2029, until Wolves negotiated a loan-to-buy arrangement.
The clause, transforming that from a temporary into a permanent arrangement, was triggered earlier this year when Krejči met the required number of appearances.
However, Pereira believes Rob Edwards’ employers could be tempted to cash-in as they attempt to balance the books and provide the former Middlesbrough and Luton Town head coach with a recruitment war chest.