Nottingham Forest Sign Daniel Munoz from Crystal Palace
Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Daniel Munoz from Crystal Palace in a deal worth up to £22m, handing Oliver Glasner a familiar and trusted right flank presence for the new season.
The Colombia international has signed a three-year contract at the City Ground, with Forest holding an option for a fourth, and links up again with Glasner after their successful spell together at Selhurst Park.
Palace, who paid £8.5m to bring Munoz in from Genk in January 2024, have banked a healthy profit after less than a year, having already moved to replace him by signing Anan Khalaili from Union Saint-Gilloise. Munoz leaves south London as a key figure in the club’s Conference League and FA Cup triumphs, his aggressive running and relentless work rate turning him into a crowd favourite and a mainstay in Palace’s biggest recent nights.
Forest, though, now get the benefit. A proven Premier League wing-back, steeped in Glasner’s demands, dropped straight into a squad that has been reshaped again in the final days of the window.
Palace shut the door on Henderson
Munoz may be heading up the M1, but Crystal Palace are drawing a hard line on any further outgoings to Nottingham.
Reports last week suggested Forest had lodged a bid for Palace captain and goalkeeper Dean Henderson. That move has been firmly blocked. Club sources insist Henderson will not be allowed to leave before the deadline, with the hierarchy intent on backing new head coach Pierre Sage rather than cashing in on another senior starter.
Forest eye Murphy as attacking reshuffle continues
Forest are not done looking. With Omari Hutchinson departing for AC Milan, the club are in the market for fresh attacking options and could turn late in the window to Newcastle forward Jacob Murphy.
There has been interest from Forest earlier in the summer, as well as from Everton, although Newcastle have not yet been formally approached in these final days. Newcastle themselves are trying to bolster their own forward line, with Lille’s Matias Fernandes Pardo and Stuttgart’s Bilal El Khannouss among the players under consideration. Any Forest move for Murphy will have to cut through that tangle of needs and negotiations.
Up front, another outgoing is already in motion. Eintracht Frankfurt are in talks to re-sign Arnaud Kalimuendo on loan from Forest. The striker spent the second half of last season on loan with the Bundesliga club, who now want him back on a similar deal, potentially with an option to buy. Kalimuendo was left out of Forest’s matchday 18 for the 2-2 draw at Liverpool on Saturday, a clear sign that his future is being worked on elsewhere.
One pursuit has already collapsed. Forest’s proposed move for Harrison Armstrong from Everton is off, with the Everton board unanimously deciding not to sell after an approach from the City Ground.
Palace line up Ahanor, stand firm on Sarr
While Munoz departs, Palace are busy on their own recruitment drive. The club are close to an agreement with Atalanta for Honest Ahanor on a season-long loan.
The plan is clear: Ahanor would join Palace from Atalanta for the year, then move permanently to Chelsea next summer. Chelsea have been negotiating a £40m permanent deal with Atalanta, but because Axel Disasi is already on loan at Selhurst Park, Chelsea cannot send Ahanor there directly on another temporary deal. Palace step in as the bridge, and potentially benefit from a season of his talent before he heads to Stamford Bridge.
On the outgoing side, Ismaila Sarr wants to leave before the deadline. Palace, though, insist the Senegal international is not for sale and point to his contract, which runs until 2029. Liverpool have made an approach in the past week and are weighing him up among several options, including Yankuba Minteh at Brighton, as they look to add pace and unpredictability to their forward line.
Sarr has already missed Palace’s first two games of the season through injury. The clock now ticks towards Tuesday’s 11pm deadline, with Palace trying to keep their core intact while Forest, newly armed with Munoz, push for one last attacking spark to change the shape of their season.
