EXCLUSIVE: Renan Lodi doubtful to make Premier League return

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 11 Jun 2023 18:11 BST
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Renan Lodi is unlikely to make a Nottingham Forest return for next season, FootballTransfers can reveal.

The defender remains an Atletico Madrid player and spent last season on loan with Steve Cooper’s side, and though he has admiration for the club, we are told that the player will sound out Champions League options.

Lodi was a crucial part of Forest’s survival last campaign – but he also has the desire to earn a spot in the Brazil national side.

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We have learnt that Lodi's hope is to push on with his career and seek out European proposals on the table.

The chance of any Premier League club getting Lodi at the moment is slim: all the sides who have gained entry to the Champions League have no need for a left-back who can be played regularly. Newcastle had been in touch and there is a line to Lodi’s camp there – but they seem intent on finding a player who can also operate as a centre-back.

We are told that Forest are not completely off the cards, but a move back to the East Midlands certainly looks doubtful at this stage.

No formal approach yet for Lodi

Benfica are in talks with Atletico, but there are also other clubs at the table. No formal approach has been made to the player’s side at the moment.

As exclusively revealed by this publication last year, Lodi signed terms for a move to the Premier League outfit in the summer with the Midlands club paying an initial £5million and having the option of another £25m to make the move permanent.

Club sources at Forest have spoken of their intention to put an offer in for Lodi, and the general feeling is that his parent club, Atletico, would be willing to accept a lower price than what was agreed in August. Lodi won’t make a return to the Spanish capital.