Nottingham Forest reportedly rejected a formal bid from Europa League winners Atalanta for Neco Williams over the weekend. According to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Tricky Trees found La Dea’s opening offer, which exceeded €20 million, to be insufficient.
Atalanta has faced challenges with clubs from the United Kingdom lately. After Celtic turned down four bids for Matt O’Riley, Nottingham Forest also rejected a substantial proposal for the 23-year-old Welshman. To be fair, Williams was a crucial player for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side last season.
Despite an injury-hit start, Williams became a key part of the first team, making 26 Premier League appearances. He still has two years remaining on his contract at the City Ground. However, given his modest contributions, it’s reasonable to argue that Forest may have overvalued their player. Williams only recorded one assist in 32 competitive games during the 2023/24 season, which isn’t impressive for an attacking full-back valued at over €20 million. This may explain why Atalanta is exploring other market options.
Romano reports that Atalanta has initiated talks with Brazilian giants Flamengo regarding 20-year-old Wesley Franca, who would come at a much lower cost than Williams. It’s unclear if Franca has less potential, considering he’s been part of Flamengo’s senior team since 2021.
These moves indicate that Atalanta is looking to either replace Davide Zappacosta or at least reduce some of the pressure on the veteran, who had an outstanding season.