Marko Stamenic’s reported move to Coventry City appears to be off after fresh claims abroad that the Red Star Belgrade player prefers a move to the Premier League, and is now heading to Nottingham Forest via Olympiacos.
The Athletic says Forest are “working on a deal” with FC Crvena Zvezda (Red Star) to sign the 22-year-old for a fee of about £4.6million, slightly more than the £4.2m that the Serbian press claimed the Sky Blues had agreed to pay for the New Zealand international who has Champions League experience.
Serbian outlet Sport Klub is quoting the general manager of Red Star, Zvezdan Terzić, who explained that although the club had agreed a deal with the Sky Blues, the player didn’t want to go to the Championship and Stamenić will now continue his career at Nottingham Forest..
“We agreed everything, but we did not sign a contract with Coventry because the player did not accept going to the Championship,” said Terzic. “His express desire was the Premier League of England and the club contacted him. We have negotiated and I hope that tomorrow we will sign everything for the transfer of five and a half million euros.”
Coventry have refused to confirm or deny speculation linking them with the player over the last two weeks, since it first emerged in the Serbian press.
Meanwhile Forest, who are owned by Evangelos Marinakis are claimed to be planning to send Stamenic on a season-long loan to the Greek billionaire’s other club, Olympiacos, before a permanent switch to the City Ground.
