Stadium Transfer Drama: Nottingham Forest’s £10m City Ground Twist – Masterstroke or Misstep?

Nottingham Forest have an opportunity to strike a deal in the region of £10m to buy the land where the City Ground sits, it is claimed.

The Reds are understood to have been offered the chance to buy the land from Nottingham City Council. City council leader David Mellen has confirmed to The Athletic there is an option open to the club to buy the freehold “so the destiny (of the City Ground) will be in their own hands rather than having to negotiate with us as the landlord”.

Marinakis was present as Reds supporters chanted ‘stand up for the City Ground’ and ‘Toton’s a s***hole, I want to stay here’ during the first half of their Premier League clash against Chelsea on home soil on Saturday evening.

Toton has been suggested as a potential site for a new stadium for the club amid uncertainty over its future at the City Ground.

The Reds are considering relocating to a new site amid a dispute with Nottingham City Council . There is an ongoing row between the parties over rent and a new lease.

A move would see Forest abandon plans, first announced in 2019, to redevelop the City Ground and increase its capacity. Chairman Tom Cartledge said last week that “due diligence” was being done on “several” alternative sites, including in Toton.

Marinakis was asked about his dream for the Reds when speaking to BBC Sport last week. He said he wants to “build a big stadium”, although it is not clear whether he was referring to a new one or redeveloping the City Ground.

“I think we have achieved great things,” the Greek said. “Now you will see that we want to build a big stadium and a new training centre.

“It is a great thing. It is a team that inspires us and we want to do more. You will see in the years to come that we also have big dreams for Forest, and it is the right thing to have such dreams.”

Forest’s existing lease on the City Ground site has 33 years left on it and talks about a new 250-year one have hit a stalemate. The council are said to want to increase the rent to £1 million from £250,000.