Nottingham Forest boss Aitor Karanka confirms World Cup striker is Reds target
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Dave Shopland/BPI/REX/Shutterstock (9717403eb) Iran's Karim Ansarifard Morocco v Iran, Group B, 2018 FIFA World Cup football match, Saint Petersburg Stadium, Russia - 15 Jun 2018
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Loading...Nottinghamshire Live – NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, Aitor Karanka has confirmed Nottingham Forest are working on making Karim Ansarifard summer signing number 17 at the City Ground.
And the Reds boss says the Iranian international striker would be their final new addition, following a frantic few months of business.
Ansarifard, 28, is a free agent after being released from his contract at Olympiacos last Friday, shortly before the transfer window closed – and is free to find another club.
Karanka says Forest have not yet agreed terms with the player, who has previously played for Saipa, Persepolis, Tractor Sazi, Osasuna and Panionios – but they are hopeful of doing so and of fending off competition from Dutch clubs SC Heerenveen and FC Utrecht.
Claudio Yacob, the former West Brom midfielder, is expected to become signing number 16 in the near future, with the 31-year-old Argentine understood to be undergoing a medical today.
And Ansarifard, who had a good season with Olympiacos in 2017/18, scoring 18 goals in 28 appearances, will also arrive, if Forest have their way.
“The club is working in the market, even when it is closed,” said Karanka. “If we consider that he is a good player for us, he will come.
“If at the end, he does not come, it will be because we decided not to bring him here.
“He (Ansarifard) is another player with a lot of experience. He has played in the Champions League, he is a good player and another good character.
“We had another Iranian player last season, in Ashkan Dejagah and he impressed me; he was very good. Let us see what is happening with him.”
Karanka does not completely rule out further additions beyond the Iranian, but says it is unlikely there will be any more business.
“You never know! But I think so. We have a very good squad and now the most important thing is to focus on the games and work on the training ground,” said Karanka.
“We have, this week and next week, a great opportunity to work hard on the training ground with the squad.”
Ansarifard did score from the penalty spot for Iran in the World Cup, during their clash with Portugal – and has 64 caps for his country overall, scoring 17 goals.
