According to Football Insider, Nottingham Forest are one of four clubs keen on signing Jamie Paterson who spent the first half of last season on loan at Derby County.
Paterson’s contract at Bristol City expires in the summer.
The 29-year-old attacker has struggled for a regular game-time at Ashton Gate over the past two years, prompting a loan switch to Derby in the summer of 2019.
Paterson joined the Rams late in the transfer window and was one of Cocu’s few signings that summer as the Dutchman replaced Frank Lampard as manager.
The Bristol City man made a total of ten appearances for the Rams, posting two assists and one goal – a winner in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Birmingham City at Pride Park.
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Cocu, however, opted to cut short Paterson’s loan but praised the attacker’s impact.
“He [Jamie Paterson] played some game, and some games he played good, especially as a number 10. At the moment, Tom Lawrence is playing the position, and is doing well, so there is quite some competition in that position. He is a good lad, and hopefully he gets back on grass, but it didn’t work here,” Cocu was quoted as saying by Bristol Live.
Paterson could now be in line to join Derby’s east Midlands rivals Forest.
Football Insider claim the Reds, Millwall, Stoke City and Birmingham City are all looking at him as Paterson has yet to feature under new Robins manager Nigel Pearson.
Paterson had a previous spell at Forest, playing 69 games after joining in 2013.
Reds boss Chris Hughton will be looking ahead to the summer as he looks to put in motion signings which will help mount a promotion bid at the City Ground next season.
Derby, meanwhile, will surely have their immediate focus on Championship survival and only then can the Rams start to seriously look at summer recruitment themselves.
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