Aitor Karanka has been discussing the possibility of signing Michael Dawson once again, with the Nottingham Forest boss praising the Hull City defender.
Forest pursued a deal for Dawson towards the end of the January transfer window, but ultimately the 34-year-old defender stayed at the KCOM Stadium to lead Hull’s fight against relegation in the Sky Bet Championship.
However, with the summer fast approaching, Karanka has been keen to talk about Dawson, hinting that another move to bring the defender back to the City Ground could well be on the cards.
Speaking to the Nottingham Post, Karanka said: “He knows the club and would love to come here. Let us see what happens, because this kind of player is not the kind of player you have to need (in a positional sense) exactly.
“And you do not look at his age, because the things he can give you in the changing room are amazing – and that is particularly the case with him.
“He is 34, going on 35 and he plays every single week. He is playing and he is scoring goals. It is about more than his ability as a player, because I also like him very much as a person.”
Dawson began his career with Forest back in 2001, making almost 100 appearances for the Reds before he moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2005.
From there, the defender featured regularly in the Premier League and in Europe, before a move to Hull.
Coming towards the end of his career, Dawson could be set to complete a full circle and return to Forest, who currently find themselves 16th in the Championship table.
The Verdict
Karanka seems keen to get Dawson back to the City Ground in the summer, and a move for the defender appears to be one of the first deals that Forest could target when the window opens.
During his short time with Forest, Karanka has prioritised brining senior players to the City Ground, which is certainly a criteria Dawson fits.
Dawson might be edging towards the end of his career, but he is still more than capable of performing in the second-tier.
Nottingham Forest fans… Let us know your thoughts!