The ideal Renan Lodi replacement Nottingham Forest could sign this summer - and he won’t cost a penny

After surviving their first season back in the Premier League, everyone associated with Nottingham Forest now have some time to breathe a well-deserved sigh of relief and put their feet up... Okay, that time is now up — the crucial summer transfer window is suddenly upon us and Steve Cooper is no exception to needing to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season.

The Reds very quickly went from riding the almost sickly thrill of promotion and the buzz of welcoming a smorgasbord of new signings over the threshold, to the gut-wrenching anxiety of a relegation battle. For a large chunk of the 2022/23 season, Forest’s name was constantly being juggled with Leeds United, Leicester City and Everton when predicting who would face the drop.

The East Midlands club showed plenty of moments of brilliance throughout the season, and players like Brennan Johnson, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Taiwo Awoniyi have really shone on England’s biggest stage. Naturally, their impressive performances will have landed them on a lot of clubs’ radars and Forest are more than likely in for a window that will require them to convince players to stay, just as much as they’ll be convincing players to come on board.

After their triumph over Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final, Forest used their hard-earned prize money to splash out on the transfer market. Like a glass of wine after a long day, why wouldn’t you want to treat yourself after working your socks off?

The Reds forked out a hefty £150 million on summer signings, breaking the English record for most recruits in a single window with a very admirable 21 new players. This year, their fishing line won’t be cast out as far but they do need to think about who will make for positive new additions. Of course, business doesn’t have to break the bank either — sometimes the best signings are the smartest ones, and Forest will do well to explore the plethora of free agents currently on the market.

Spanish defender Aarón Martín is one man who is just days away from being without a club. His current contract with Mainz is coming to the end of its fourth and final year and he is available to start having conversations regarding the next chapter in his career.

Martín signed for the Bundesliga side in 2019, following a successful loan spell away from Espanyol, where he started his career as a young boy and worked his way up through the ranks to the senior team. Since joining Mainz, he has made 124 appearances for the club and has been a heavily present figure for them.

During the 2022/23 season, Martín played in all but six of Mainz’s Bundesliga fixtures and he showcased his versatility in being able to operate as a left-back and a left-sided midfielder. Despite being a defender by trade, the 26-year-old’s ability to slot into a more forward role is similar to Renan Lodi, who joined Forest on loan from Atlético Madrid last summer.

The Brazilian played a key role in Forest’s relegation survival and they are reportedly attempting to renegotiate with his parent club over a permanent move. In Lodi’s loan deal terms, the Reds were given the option to sign him full-time for a fee of €30 million (£25.6 million), but a decision needed to be made by March and now that offer has expired.

Forest have returned to the table to try and strike a deal for Lodi, but for a smaller fee, which may not wash with Atlético. Reports from Spain suggest the left-back is headed back to LaLiga, which will leave quite the hole in Forest’s squad. Cooper does have options in Harry Toffolo and Omar Richards, but the latter was unable to feature at all in his debut season due to injury, and Toffolo’s time on the pitch was also limited.

Lodi played all but six Premier League matches under Cooper last season, alternating between the left-back and left-midfield role when required by the manager. Looking at free agent Martín, he is a similar player to Lodi and would be a natural fit in those left-hand positions.

When comparing the two via WhoScored? based on their respective 2022/23 seasons, the two have similar defensive stats, with Martín averaging 1.5 tackles, and Lodi 1.9 per game. They both also enjoy getting involved in creating goalscoring chances, as Martín creates an average of one key pass per game compared to Lodi’s 0.5.

Martín also comes out on top with an 80.5 percent passing accuracy average, compared to Lodi’s 71.3 percent. The Spaniard’s key strengths have been highlighted as ball control and direct free-kicks, which would bode well in a fast-paced, physical division like the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest’s goal return last season was down the lower end of the table, having found the back of the net 38 times, compared to Leicester for example, who bagged 51 goals despite finishing lower in the table. Martín could also provide some extra creativity, having contributed five goals and three assists for Mainz last term. This was his best tally for a single season since joining the German outfit, and who doesn’t love adding more goal-scoring players to their roster?

Apart from the initial confirmation that Martín will be leaving Mainz this summer, there has been little talk over where he will end up next. Forest would do well to strike while rumours appear to be few and far between for someone who still has many years of their career left, and can provide versatility as a defender as well as an addition to the creative side of play.

They may have made a statement last year by throwing cash in almost every direction they could turn, but Forest’s plan this time round doesn’t need to involve to quite the same spending spree. There are options available that will be friendlier on the purse strings, and after surviving their first season back in the top flight after 23 years, the Reds can probably afford a moment or two to take a breath and appreciate what they’ve achieved and settle themselves into their new Premier League status.