The deal to sign Middlesbrough winger Mustapha Carayol has fallen through, admits frustrated Nottingham Forest boss Dougie Freedman.
Forest believed they had sealed the deal to sign Mustapha Carayol until the end of the season, only for Championship rivals Middlesbrough to cancel the deal, at the 11th hour.
Manager Dougie Freedman today admitted his frustration with the deal that fell through, as the 26-year old winger even made the journey to Nottingham to agree personal terms.
“We fancied getting him very strongly. We got the go ahead to do the deal and Steve Gibson (Boro chairman) has pulled the plug on it at the 11th hour,” said Freedman.
“It was late in the day and I was disappointed, because I felt he was somebody who we could give game time; who would benefit our team.
“I spoke to Boro and things moved quickly. He had three clubs to chose from and he came to us, he was in the office in fact!”
Freedman believes he would of been an ideal signing, for the club and Carayol himself. Carayol is returning from a serious knee injury, and as well as providing another attacking option, the winger could have got some first-team football under his belt.
“But Steve decided he was uncomfortable with the situation. I don’t know why, because we are playing a lot of the teams around Middlesbrough and they could have benefited. I know the boy was disappointed, because he wanted game time. But we will move on quickly on to the next target.” – Dougie Freedman
The Reds continue their hunt for an additional attacking man, but Freedman does not expect anyone to join prior their trip to Norwich at the weekend.
