Nottingham Forest in advanced talks with Benito as deal offered - Sources

By Wayne Veysey

6th Dec, 2021 | 8:38am

Sources: Benito in advanced talks to join Nottingham Forest as deal offered

Nottingham Forest are in advanced talks to sign Switzerland international Loris Benito, Football Insider has learned. 

The 29-year-old defender, who is a free agent, is training with Forest with a view to a transfer.

A Forest source has told Football Insider that the club are discussing a short-term deal with Benito that would run until the end of the season.

The left-back has been without a club since leaving Bordeaux in August.

Manager Steve Cooper is looking to bolster his defensive options.

Nottingham Forest currently only have Gaetan Bong available in the left-back berth, with loanee Max Lowe sidelined after he suffered a groin strain.

Midfielder Jack Colback has been utilised in the unfamiliar full-back role in recent games.

Benito played 62 minutes for Bordeaux in Ligue 1 this season prior to his release in August.

The 29-year-old made 59 career appearances for the French club after signing from Young Boys in 2019.

The full-back is also proven on the international stage and was part of the Switzerland squad which made it to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 this summer.

Benito boasts 13 caps and one goal for his country.

The left-footed defender has also been utilised at centre-back and on the left side of midfield across his career.

His versatility could have played a part in Cooper’s decision, with the former Swansea boss alternating between three and four at the back this season.

Nottingham Forest have gone seven Championship games without defeat and sit 13th in the second tier.

Forest face Swansea next Saturday (11 December).

In other news, Nottingham Forest in transfer mission as they work on beating Rangers to deal in January.