It’s that time of the season again – the summer transfer deadline day slammed shut at 5pm for permanent deals for all EFL clubs.
Nottingham Forest, Notts County and Mansfield Town have all made major changes to their squad in this transfer window, including a club-record signing for the Reds who signed midfielder Joao Carvalho from Benfica for £13m among the 11 players signed so far.
Forest made no secret they are looking to add a right-back to their squad and Notts and Mansfield could all still have been active before the window closed.
The Magpies had so far brought in 10 players this window and the Stags have signed nine.
Today (Thursday August 9) was the last day each club can add players to their books permanently – however each of our three clubs have until August 31 to secure any loan deals and to offload players.
Here’s how it all unfolded…
17:15 And that’s it for another transfer window! Thank you for sticking with us for all the latest Nottingham Forest, Notts County and Mansfield Town transfer news as it happened throughout the day. Do stay with us for all your football news and analysis for all three Nottinghamshire clubs throughout the season. This is Jake Brigstock signing off!
17:05 It seems as though that’s it for both Nottingham Forest and Notts County for permanent deals – meaning the Sam Byram signing for the Reds will only happen on a loan basis.
Sounds like everything done at #nffc and #notts for August…
Remember that loan signings can still happen until the end of August.
I think both will be extremely happy with their business – good transfer windows.
Signing players on deadline day ain’t always a good thing!
— Robin Chipperfield (@sportchippers) August 9, 2018
17:00 THE SUMMER TRANSFER WINDOW FOR PERMANENT DEALS IS NOW CLOSED! However, deals can still be announced afterwards as long as the necessary paperwork was submitted on time. With Nottingham Forest still linked with Sam Byram and Mansfield Town striker Lee Angol being linked with a move to Shrewsbury, announcements could still be incoming… Watch this space!
16:58 Two minutes to go!
16:55 Five minutes now! A reminder that as long as the required paperwork is in on time, deals can be announced after the window closes at 5pm – so don’t go anywhere just yet…
16:50 Ten minutes now…
16:45 JUST FIFTEEN MINUTES TO GO! Will we see any more deals involving Nottingham Forest, Notts County or Mansfield Town? Stick with us for the latest right up until the deadline!
16:35 Speaking to iFollow Forest in his first interview as a Nottingham Forest player, defender Michael Hefele has said he wants to get to the ‘promised land’ of the Premier League with the Reds.
Hefele said: “The last 24 hours have been crazy, but I am so proud and so much stress goes away from me.
“I am so happy to be here at The City Ground, it is an unbelievable feeling for me.
“Everybody is there, you feel the energy and I saw what is going on at the club with the project to get promoted.
“Everybody is very positive about this; I want to be part of it and help the team with my style.
“The owners have spent some money to get some good players in and I have spoken to the gaffer who has a clear vision.
“Everyone is willing and has the hunger and desire to get to the promised land.
“I did it once with Huddersfield and I just want to do it again, to go with Nottingham Forest as soon as possible to the Premier League.
“I am not just saying this, I mean it.
“We have to work very hard because it is a long season but it is possible.”
16:30 THIRTY MINUTES! Just half-an-hour left until the summer transfer window closes for permanent deals! Will Nottingham Forest get Sam Byram over the line? Is Ben Brereton preparing to move north? Will Mansfield Town striker Lee Angol leave for Shrewsbury? Stay with us to find out!
16:25 Here’s one from out the blue! Blackburn Rovers are reported to have made a bid of £5m for Nottingham Forest striker Ben Brereton!
Blackburn Rovers have made a £5m bid for Nottingham Forest striker Ben Brereton. #Rovers #nffc pic.twitter.com/aecTYHemp7
— Football League Zone (@TheFLZone) August 9, 2018
16:24 Here’s more from Mansfield Town’s Otis Khan’s interview with iFollow Stags.
FREEVIEW: Here’s what dynamic midfielder @OtisKhan63 had to say when asked about #Stags‘ boss David Flitcroft’s preparation heading into matches 👇
For the full interview, log in to https://t.co/8sVldDTQIZ pic.twitter.com/qQGNx9GCrd— Mansfield Town FC (@mansfieldtownfc) August 9, 2018
16:21 BBC Sport are reporting the fee Nottingham Forest have paid Huddersfield Town for the services of Michael Hefele is around the £300,000 mark.
16:20 Let’s quickly look at Mansfield Town – Tyler Walker has joined on loan for the season at the Stags from Nottingham Forest and former Forest defender Craig Armstrong, speaking on the latest episode of Team Talk, thinks he can have an even more eye-catching season that what Jorge Grant did at Notts County last season.
16:16 Here’s Nottingham Forest new boy Michael Hefele in his first interview as a Red.
💬 “I did it once and I just want to do it again, to go with #NFFC as soon as possible to the Premier League.”
The first interview with new signing @michaelhefele is on the way soon.#ThatLovingFeeling pic.twitter.com/A4YwfyQyd8
— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) August 9, 2018
16:15 Just 45 minutes to go until the end of the window…
16:06 If you missed it from earlier on, here’s a bit more on defender Michael Hefele – the 6’4″ centre-back signed for Huddersfield Town back in July 2016. For the Terriers, he’s made 39 appearances in all competitions and has scored five goals. Hefele made 37 appearances in the 2016/17 season for Huddersfield in the Championship, the year they were promoted to the Premier League. However last season, he found game time hard to come by as he struggled with injury, making six appearances in all competitions with just two of those in the Premier League. And this season, he will play his football for Nottingham Forest.
16:04 DONE DEAL! At last! Defender Michael Hefele has signed for Nottingham Forest from Huddersfield for an undisclosed fee.
The 27-year-old 6’4″ central defender has signed a three year contract at the City Ground and is the 12th addition to the Reds in this window.
16:00 ONE HOUR WARNING! We have one hour until the summer transfer window for permanent deals slams shut!
15:57 WATCH: Here’s Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka on Michael Hefele and the transfer window as a whole – so far…
15:54 It couldn’t happen… Could it?!
Hearing more and more strongly that Lee Angol is heading to Shrewsbury from Mansfield…#stags #shrews #deadlineday
— Robin Chipperfield (@sportchippers) August 9, 2018
15:49 Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka has said Huddersfield defender Michael Hefele would bring depth to the centre of defence.
Karanka thinks his experience of winning promotion to the Premier League with the Terriers in the 2016/17 season, where he made 37 appearances in the Championship, will be invaluable.
Karanka also said it would give him an option to play three at the back in future games.
Speaking in the pre-match press conference for the game against Reading on Saturday (August 11), he said: “He will be another good character – he will be a player with Championship experience and one of getting promotion.
“He can bring a few things that can improve us.
“I’m pleased with the transfer window because although I haven’t been on holiday, I have got the players I wanted to have.
“The players who arrived later like Soudani, Grabban and Colback I’m really pleased with too because I said how important it was to start with everyone.
“I don’t think any players will leave the City Ground between now and the deadline because we don’t need to sell anyone.
“The players who are here are here because they want to be but it is the market and if we receive a crazy offer from one of our players and they are keen to leave, we will have a look but I’m not expecting anything.”
15:40 Some more detail into the Sam Byram to Nottingham Forest transfer – looking likely the Redds are the preferred destination for the 24-year-old right-back…
You lot are a hard bunch to please sometimes, eh?
Stumbling block will be related to an add-on clause. West Ham will be demanding X if #nffc and Byram achieve Y.
Might be a case of who blinks first before 5pm… or alternatively they negotiate again, during the loan window.— Paul Taylor (@nottmtails) August 9, 2018
15:39 Speak of the devil! A tease of a late transfer involving Mansfield Town and a player leaving Field Mill. Lee Angol may be on his way to Shrewsbury – this coming after the Stags agreed a fee with Grimsby for the services of the striker before Angol himself turned the club down…
Whispers of Lee Angol to Shrewsbury….?? Nothing confirmed as yet… #stags
— Robin Chipperfield (@sportchippers) August 9, 2018
15:36 WATCH: With Notts County’s business seemingly done and dusted as far as permanent transfers go, this is who the latest Team Talk panel think will have the biggest impact at Meadow Lane this season.
15:32 It all seems very quiet up at Mansfield Town at the moment I’m afraid to say, with less than an hour-and-a-half of the window left…
15:24 It seems as though reports of interest from Middlesbrough into Sam Byram may well have been exaggerated…
Have a hunch that talk of Boro ‘interest’ might have been no more than a negotiating tactic from the capital… ready to wipe the egg of my face on that one, if he ends up being unveiled at the Riverside in the next few hours, of course…
— Paul Taylor (@nottmtails) August 9, 2018
15:00 Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka called Huddersfield defender Michael Hefele a ‘real character’ in the pre-match press conference for Reading.
Karanka said it would give the Reds the option to also play three at the back given the strength in depth Forest currently have in the centre of defence.
He confirmed the club are working towards making the deal happen but does not know if it will get over the line in time.
Karanka also confirmed there will be no permanent outgoings between now and the end of the transfer window.
Full quotes and video to follow soon.
14:53 Seems as though it will be a quiet one after all at Notts County…
With Kevin Nolan, who says transfer business is “very unlikely” before the 5pm deadline #Notts #DeadlineDay pic.twitter.com/Z3hHNuSqGs
— BBC Nottingham Sport (@BBCRNS) August 9, 2018
14:46 And I’m back in the office! Interesting words from both manager Aitor Karanka and Joe Lolley at the Nottingham Forest press conference – quotes from Karanka to come shortly on Michael Hefele…
13:00 Just four hours to go until the window closes! Nottingham Forest are the ones to keep a close eye on at the moment, with Huddersfield defender Michael Hefele being heavily linked with the Reds. The move for Sam Byram could well yet be scuppered by Middlesbrough who are reportedly preparing a last minute bid to snatch him from under Forest’s noses. Notts County and Mansfield Town could both yet be active – so stay with us!
12:42 Running the transfer deadline day blog from Notts TV towers. I’ll be off to the Nottingham Forest press conference at 1.30pm but will be keeping you up-to-date with all the latest!
12:32 One for Nottingham Forest fans this – reports are emerging of a plot twist in the Sam Byram saga. Middlesbrough are reportedly keen to push through a deal and snatch the 24-year-old right-back from under the noses of Forest.
12:28 New Mansfield Town midfielder Otis Khan spoke to iFollow Stags following the impressive 3-0 win over Newport County on Saturday (August 4).
He scored two in the game, with the second earning the accolade of League Two goal of the week, and also earned a place in the EFL team of the week.
Ahead of the trip to Yeovil Town on Saturday (August 11), where Khan joined from in the summer, he said there ‘is more to come’ from not just himself but the squad too.
Khan said: “We’re working on all aspects of the game and I feel like it’s coming together.
“The number 10 role is where I enjoy playing, you get a lot of space in there.
“I pick the ball up in dangerous positions and can affect the game.
“I think as long as I’m doing my part for the team, everything else comes together.”
12:00 Just five hours to go now until the window closes!
11:45 …and it would seem BBC sport presenter, reporter and commentator Charlie Slater agrees.
For those asking. Expecting it to be a quiet one at Meadow Lane today on #DeadlineDay. The club very happy with the business they’ve already completed this summer. pic.twitter.com/7bbTKXeQQI
— Charlie Slater (@CharlieSlater15) August 9, 2018
11:36 It’s looking like a quiet one at Notts County today according to BBC Radio Nottingham sport presenter Robin Chipperfield. Looking like the Magpies are happy with their transfer business.
Not expecting anything to happen at #notts – looking like a quiet one at Meadow Lane…
— Robin Chipperfield (@sportchippers) August 9, 2018
11:32 Mansfield Town have had two arrivals at Field Mill from France – both of which came over to visit defender Mal Benning!
MEETING MAL: Pirthipal Singh (left) and his son Harpal Singh (right) have made a special journey from their home in France to meet defender @Mal_1993 at One Call Stadium this morning.
The trio originate from Punjab, the heart of India’s #Sikh community. pic.twitter.com/OPyiaaZFqH— Mansfield Town FC (@mansfieldtownfc) August 9, 2018
11:24 Let’s take a closer look at Nottingham Forest target Sam Byram. This is what the panel on the latest episode of Team Talk had to say about him.
11:15
Mansfield Town transfers so far this summer
In
- Otis Khan – Yeovil Town (undisclosed fee)
- Craig Davies – Oldham Athletic (undisclosed fee)
- Matt Preston – Swindon Town (free)
- Neal Bishop – Scunthorpe United (free)
- Ryan Sweeney – Stoke City (loan)
- Tyler Walker – Nottingham Forest (loan)
- Lewis Gibbens – Mansfield U19 (promoted)
- Jordan Graham – Mansfield U19 (promoted)
- Henri Wilder – Mansfield U19 (promoted)
Out
- Joel Byrom – Stevenage (free)
- Alfie Potter – Billericay (free)
- Rhys Bennett – Peterborough United (free)
- Johnny Hunt – Stevenage (free)
- George Taft – Cambridge United (free)
- Paul Digby – Forest Green Rovers (free)
- Jimmy Spencer – released
- Jack Thomas – released
- Lewis Collins – released
- Zander Diamond – released
- Zayn Hakeem – released
11:08 Of the nine signings Mansfield Town have made so far this window, five of them featured in the impressive 3-0 win over Newport County on Saturday (August 4). On the latest episode of Team Talk, here’s what Stags superfan Tim Kociuch thought of the performance of the new players
11:00 Just six hours to go now until the window closes for permanent deals! It’s looking like Nottingham Forest will be the busiest of our three teams – but that’s not to say Notts County or Mansfield Town will not spring a surprise! Stay with us!
10:58 Nottingham Post’s Notts County writer Leigh Curtis thinks it could well be a quiet one over at Meadow Lane today…
Transfer deadline day. Expecting a quiet one at Notts. Business was all done early. May make an addition or two before loan window shuts on August 31.
— Leigh Curtis (@LeighCurtis_NP) August 9, 2018
10:45 Paul Taylor seems hopeful a deal or two at the Reds could be on the way later on…
Forest are working on a few deals today… they could very well still add one or two more new faces. But if it doesn’t happen, the window as a whole has still been a big success. And they still have until the end of the month to do loan deals (which can include permanent clauses)
— Paul Taylor (@nottmtails) August 9, 2018
Byram is still a deal that they are working on. Been suggested for well over a week now that the player is keen to come. Even if it doesn’t happen today, it’s a deal Forest could do, on a loan basis, right up until August 31.
— Paul Taylor (@nottmtails) August 9, 2018
10:30 A quick update on the Michael Hefele situation at Nottingham Forest from Nottingham Post’s Forest writer Paul Taylor – will they get the deal done by 5pm?
Michael Hefele is a player #nffc have an interest in… will be interesting to see how that one unfolds. Told it is a long way from being a done deal at this point. But this is deadline day and that, very obviously, can change very quickly.
— Paul Taylor (@nottmtails) August 9, 2018
10:26
Notts County transfers so far this summer
In
- Kristian Dennis – Chesterfield (£150,000)
- Enzio Boldewijn – Crawley Town (undisclosed six-figure fee)
- Kane Hemmings – Oxford United (undisclosed fee)
- Tom Crawford – Chester (undisclosed fee)
- David Vaughan – Nottingham Forest (free)
- Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain – Portsmouth (free)
- Andy Kellett – Wigan (free)
- Will Patching – Manchester City (free)
- Ben Hall – Brighton (loan)
- Nathan Thomas – Sheffield United (loan)
Out
- Michael O’Connor – Lincoln City (free)
- Curtis Thompson – Wycombe (free)
- Adam Collin – Carlisle (free)
- Nicky Hunt – Crewe (free)
- Carl Dickinson – Yeovil Town (free)
- Liam Noble – Hartlepool (free)
- Jonathan Forte – Exeter City (free)
- Elliot Hodge – released
- Mike Edwards – released
- Callum Saunders – released
- Shola Ameobi – released
- Rob Milsom – released
- Alan Smith – released
10:15 Let’s have a look at Notts County now – the Magpies have made wholesale changes to their squad as well this summer and this is what the Team Talk panel made of the deals on the latest episode.
10:03
Nottingham Forest transfers so far this summer
In
- Joao Carvalho – Benfica (£13m)
- Lewis Grabban – Bournemouth (£6m)
- Hillal Soudani – Dinamo Zagreb (undisclosed fee)
- Tobias Figueiredo – Sporting Lisbon (undisclosed fee)
- Costel Pantilimon – Watford (undisclosed fee)
- Jack Robinson – QPR (free)
- Luke Steele – Bristol City (free)
- Michael Dawson – Hull (free)
- Diogo Goncalves – Benfica (loan)
- Gil Dias – Monaco (loan)
- Jack Colback – Newcastle (loan)
Out
- Barrie McKay – Swansea (undisclosed fee)
- Stefanos Kapino – Werder Bremen (undisclosed fee)
- Andreas Bouchalakis – Olympiacos (undisclosed fee)
- Michael Mancienne – Revolution (undisclosed fee)
- Eric Lichaj – Hull City (undisclosed fee)
- Armand Traore – Rizespor (undisclosed fee)
- Ashkan Dejagah – Tractor Sazi (free)
- David Vaughan – Notts County (free)
- Jack Hobbs – Bolton (free)
- Jason Cummings – Peterborough (loan)
- Jorge Grant – Luton Town (loan)
- Tyler Walker – Mansfield Town (loan)
- Lewis Walters – released
- Chris Cohen – retired
09:40 WATCH: Team Talk returned for a brand new season last night (Wednesday August 8), which is now available On Demand. Presenter Iain Chambers was joined by former Notts manager and player Charlie McParland and former Forest defender Craig Armstrong, who discussed how well Nottingham Forest have done their business so far.
09:26 It’s not just incomings that look likely at Nottingham Forest today – a number of current strikers, including striker Apostolos Vellios, could be moving away from the City Ground. A number of reports claim he has been the subject of a £600,000 bid from Bolton.
09:16 A bit more on defender Michael Hefele – the 6’4″ centre-back signed for Huddersfield Town in July 2016. For the Terriers, he’s made 39 appearances in all competitions and has scored five goals. Hefele made 37 appearances in the 2016/17 season for Huddersfield in the Championship, the year they were promoted to the Premier League. However last season, he found game time hard to come by as he struggled with injury, making six appearances in all competitions with just two of those in the Premier League.
09:10 And we’re underway straight away! Huddersfield Town defender Michael Hefele is reported to be having a medical at Nottingham Forest. The Daily Mail reported earlier on the Reds are looking at signing the German for around £350,000. What a way to start!
09:00 Good morning Nottinghamshire! This is Jake Brigstock signing in to the start of deadline day for our three Nottinghamshire clubs – and the rumour mill is already turning at this early hour!
