Nottingham Forest’s move for Juventus duo Timothy Weah and Samuel Mbangula has reached an “advanced stage” according to Sky Sports. The Tricky Trees are expected to pay around £19 million for the pair, as Nuno Espirito Santo looks to strengthen his side ahead of their UEFA Conference League campaign.
Nottingham Forest’s Talks Over Juventus Duo Reach “Advanced Stage”
What Do We Know So Far?
Nottingham Forest have wasted little time this summer and are now eyeing up their second multiple-player deal of the transfer window, having already agreed to sign Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha from Brazilian side Botafogo.
The club are hopeful that they can get the double signing of Weah and Mbangula over the line, but there is still plenty of work to do before the deal is wrapped up. According to Sky, Forest have yet to agree personal terms with USA international Weah, who may wish to weigh up his options before committing to a move to the City Ground.
However, Juventus’s poor financial situation means that they are under significant pressure to cash in on players this summer, with the 36-time Italian champions reporting losses of over £300 million across the last two seasons. Both Weah and Mbangula are currently at the Club World Cup but were unused substitutes in the club’s 4-1 thrashing of Wydad AC on June 22.
Who Is Timothy Weah?
Timothy Weah, the son of Ballon d’Or-winning striker and Liberian president George Weah, is a highly versatile player, capable of playing as both a right winger and right-back. The 25-year-old started his career at PSG before moving to Lille in 2019 following a brief spell at Scottish giants Celtic.
After four seasons at the French side, the American moved to Juventus for an initial €10.3 million and has since gone on to make 78 appearances across his two seasons for the Old Lady, scoring seven goals. Weah played 30 times in last season’s Serie A, scoring five goals and recording three assists as Juventus finished in fourth place.
The winger also boasts a wealth of international experience having made 44 appearances for the USMNT, including at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and has scored seven goals for his nation. The 25-year-old would bring valuable versatility, pace, and technical ability to Nuno’s side as they look to build on a fantastic 2024/25 campaign.
Who Is Samuel Mbangula?
Samuel Mbangula is an exciting 21-year-old winger blessed with searing pace and heralded for his ability to make an impact in big moments. After joining the club’s academy in 2020, the Belgian was handed his Juventus debut back in August 2024, where he went on to score and earn the Man of the Match award as the Old Lady defeated Como 3-0.
The youngster primarily features from the left flank, where he is able to cut in on his preferred right foot in a similar fashion to Forest’s Callum Hudson-Odoi. Mbangula scored three goals and produced three assists last season, so his reported price tag of around £7 million could prove to be a bargain for the Tricky Trees.
The 21-year-old has yet to make his full international debut but was called up to the senior Belgium squad for their Nations League matches in November 2024.