Matt Turner hasn’t spent much time at Nottingham Forest, but his departure from the English team seems imminent. The USMNT star joined the East Midlands club from Arsenal in the summer of 2023. Forest paid the Gunners around $9 million to sign the American goalkeeper permanently.
At the time, the move was seen as a solid deal for Forest. After all, Turner is normally the USMNT’s first-choice goalkeeper and has done quite well at Arsenal. Despite being a substitute for the Gunners, the goalkeeper kept four clean sheets in seven cup matches during the 2022/23 season.
Despite being brought in as Forest’s new number one last season, things haven’t exactly worked out. Turner initially started the first 10 Premier League games of the 2023/24 season. While he kept a clean sheet against Chelsea and Crystal Palace, former Forest manager Steve Cooper relegated Turner to the bench after a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool.
The American’s precarious situation was made worse when the club signed fellow goalkeeper Matz Sels on February 1. The move pushed Turner even further down the club’s pecking order. In addition to Sels, Forest also recently signed Carlos Miguel. The Brazilian is now Sels’ replacement and Turner was left out of the squad for the team’s first two league games this season.
Nottingham Forest is negotiating hard for Matt Turner
Although Forest would like to sell Turner, they have rejected loan offers from several clubs. According to ESPNThe club would like to get at least part of its investment back through a permanent transfer. However, a suitable offer for Turner has not yet been received.
However, a possible move back to the MLS is currently out of the question. While the transfer window is still open in Europe, it is now closed in North America. Turner will therefore not be able to join an MLS team in the foreseeable future. The goalkeeper had previously started his professional career with the New England Revolution.
Outside of the MLS, teams from the English Championship and Bundesliga are also said to be interested in signing Turner. It remains to be seen whether these clubs are willing to pay a hefty transfer fee for the American. In return, Forest may have to bite the bullet and approve a loan. Turner’s current contract with the club does not expire until 2027.
Turner situation is currently causing headaches for USMNT officials
The biggest problem for Turner is keeping his starting place with the USMNT. Since 2021, Turner has mostly been used as a top keeper between the posts for the national team. However, this could change if the New Jersey native does not find a new team before the transfer deadline. The transfer window in England closes on Friday, but in Germany it remains open until September 2nd.
Assuming Turner remains a Forest player after these dates, potential new USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino will have his work cut out for him. The goalkeeping position is not exactly a strong point for the Stars and Stripes at the moment. Not only has Turner lost his place in England, reserve player Ethan Horvath is also going through a tough time at his club.
The Cardiff City goalkeeper has struggled at the start of the season. The American has let in eight goals in just three games for the Bluebirds, currently the worst defensive performance in the Championship. It remains to be seen whether the club will leave Horvath out of the squad for their next league game this weekend.
In addition to the underperforming duo, the USMNT also has Sean Johnson. Still, the veteran goalkeeper is now 35 and has made just 13 appearances for his country’s senior national team. Relatively untested players like Drake Callender and Patrick Schulte could also enter the fray.
PHOTOS: IMAGO
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