NOTTINGHAM FOREST are ready to step up their bid to land Rangers defender Connor Goldson.
SunSport understands the English Premier League new boys are ready to make their move for the 29-year-old following their 1-0 play-off win over Huddersfield on Sunday at Wembley.
We revealed in January that Forest boss Steve Cooper is a huge fan of Goldson, who made 61 appearances and scored four goals for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team this season.
Rangers haven’t given up hope of convincing the stopper to extend his four-year stay in Glasgow, but the Dutch boss admitted earlier this month that there was only a ‘small chance’ Goldson would stay in Scotland.
Now City Ground boss Cooper hopes the lure of featuring in the English top flight, which could earn the club £200million, will convince the Gers hero to head back south.
Goldson featured three times in the Premier League in his final season with Brighton before swapping the south coast for Govan under then boss Steven Gerrard in 2018.
He has been an almost ever-present since and made himself a fans’ favourite as he helped the club win the league for the first time in a decade.
He was immense as he helped the Light Blues reach the Europa League final and lift a first Scottish Cup since 2009.
He has been offered a new deal with Van Bronckhorst’s side, but that final win looks to be Goldson’s leaving present to the Rangers fans following an impressive stint in Scotland.
Should the stopper decide his future lies with Forest, he might replace ex-Ibrox team-mate Joe Worrall.
The English defender has plenty of admirers after helping them reach the promised land of the Premier League for the first time since 1999.
Former Celtic gaffer Brendan Rodgers is an admirer of the 25-year-old who had a loan spell at Gers in 2018.
West Ham are also believed to be interested in the former England Under-21 international.
But Worrall could yet decide to stay with the club and link up again with Goldson.
Scotland defender Scott McKenna – who Goldson faced at Aberdeen – would also compete for a starting spot next season.
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