Nottingham Forest Secures Loan for Napoli Striker Lucca

Loan Agreement Until Season’s End

Nottingham Forest has finalized a loan deal for Lorenzo Lucca, a striker from Napoli, that is set to last until the close of the season, with an option for a permanent transfer during the summer window.

Lucca joined Napoli last July in a deal from Udinese, which included a mandatory buy clause.

Performance Challenges at Napoli

Despite scoring 14 goals for Udinese last season, Lucca has faced challenges in securing playing time with the reigning Italian champions. The 25-year-old forward has netted just one goal over 16 Serie A appearances for Antonio Conte’s team, featuring in four matches as a starter, along with one goal in the Coppa Italia.

Forest’s Striker Search

Sean Dyche, the manager of Forest, has been actively seeking a new striker due to uncertainties surrounding the return of last season’s top scorer, Chris Wood, who underwent knee surgery in December.

Edu, Forest’s global head of football, commented on Lucca’s potential, highlighting his height of 6ft 7in and diverse experience. Lucca has previously played for clubs such as Palermo, Pisa, and Ajax during his loan spell.

“His experiences at top levels in various leagues will bring a good mix of quality to our squad,” Edu mentioned. “We all look forward to seeing how he influences our performance throughout the remainder of the season.”

Potential Additional Acquisitions

In addition to Lucca, Forest is also expressing interest in his Napoli teammate Mathias Olivera, 28, to enhance their left-back position. Furthermore, they are evaluating the possibility of acquiring Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, with the Norwegian international available for a fee of £40 million.

Currently, Nottingham Forest occupies the 17th position in the Premier League, holding a five-point cushion above the relegation zone.