Argentina’s World Cup-winning penalty taker ‘closing in on shock transfer to the Premier League’
NOTTINGHAM FOREST are close to signing Argentina’s World Cup-winning penalty taker.
Sevilla right-back Gonzalo Montiel could join after a medical on Monday.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano believes personal terms are being finalised ahead of a £9.4million deal.
Montiel, 26, was the late villain and even later hero in Argentina’s triumph against France in Qatar last December.
He conceded the 118th-minute penalty from which Kylian Mbappe completed his hat-trick to earn a 3-3 draw and a shootout.
Then he tucked home the final spot-kick to clinch a 4-2 win on penalties.
Incredibly, Montiel did much the same to seal Europa League glory against Roma three months ago.
The ex-River Plate star fired home to wrap up a 4-1 shootout success following a 1-1 stalemate.
Montiel would be Steve Cooper’s fourth summer recruit.
Wingers Anthony Elanga and Ola Aina came in from Manchester United and Torino respectively.
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And USA ace Matt Turner arrived from Arsenal as Forest’s new No1.
Cooper is reluctant to comment on deals “until something is done permanently”.
But he said: “We’re all keen to bring players in. We’re all working together trying to do that.
“If we can, great. It’s obviously a slow market – there’s not loads going on across the board in the Premier League.
“If we’re able to do some things, fantastic. If not, then we continue and believe in the guys we have.”
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