An agreement of up to £500,000 has been reached between Nottingham Forest and Stefan Ortega, the custodian for Manchester City. Davide Frattesi, an Inter Milan midfielder, is another player Sean Dyche’s team is attempting to recruit, first on loan with the possibility of a permanent move.
In addition to playing 19 games for Inter this season, the 26-year-old has 33 caps for Italy. After James Trafford and Gianluigi Donnarumma, 33-year-old German Stefan Ortega is presently the third choice at the Etihad. His contract expires this summer, and he hasn’t played for Pep Guardiola’s team yet this year.
John Victor’s knee injury will keep him out of action for the remainder of the season, which is why Forest needs a keeper. The City Ground team had discussed a trade for Jose Sa with Wolves, but they have since switched their focus to Ortega.
Since joining City in 2022, Ortega has participated in 56 games and was crucial to their 2024 Premier League championship. He participated in 22 games last season, including the July Club World Cup and Crystal Palace’s FA Cup final loss.
Nottingham Forest are close to a deal to sign Manchester City goalkeeper
Brazilian stopper John Victor is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a knee injury; therefore, Forest needs competition and a replacement for Matz Sels. Jose Sa, the goalkeeper for Wolverhampton Wanderers, was a target for Sean Dyche’s team, but Ortega, whose contract with City expires this summer, is currently the center of attention.
This season, the former 1860 Munich and Arminia Bielefeld custodian has not played in the Premier League. In 2023–2024, Ortega made nine appearances as City won the Premier League, notably when Pep Guardiola’s team defeated West Ham United on the last day to secure the championship.
Ortega was previously referred to by Guardiola as “one of the best keepers I’ve seen in my life.” The German custodian made 22 appearances in the previous season, but since James Trafford from Burnley and Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain were signed last summer, he has fallen farther down the hierarchy.
The German declined offers in the summer, but he no longer travels to every game and hasn’t played this season; he last participated in the Club World Cup last year. Before Donnarumma’s joining on August 16 against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the first day of the season, he was not included in a Premier League matchday squad.
