Nottingham Forest have been handed encouragement in pursuit of Lee Tomlin with the player keen on a return, The Nottingham Post reports.

Tomlin wants to return to The City Ground as his future at Cardiff City looks bleak, although he will probably have to settle for a loan move rather than a permanent deal.

The attacking midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, reuniting with his former Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka there, and he impressed with a tally of four goals and three assists in 13 matches.

The Reds have been strongly linked with a return move for Tomlin this summer, although this is now likely to be another loan arrangement.

Tomlin is not in Neil Warnock's plans at Cardiff but he has a contract with the Welsh club until 2020 and he received a hefty pay rise as a result of the Bluebirds' promotion to the Premier League.

The 29-year-old wants a fresh start away from Cardiff and Nottingham Forest could offer him that.

With all three parties trying to reach the same conclusion, a loan deal is looking the most likely solution as Karanka continues his summer reshuffle at Nottingham Forest.

The Verdict

At Forest, Tomlin is in a settled and familiar environment and he thrives in a more advanced midfield role.

Karanka knows the playmaker well and gives him license to use his creative talents and give Forest a different dimension in their midfield ranks.

With Cardiff ready to let him go, a loan deal seems like it makes most sense financially.

Nottingham Forest fans - Would you like this deal to go ahead? Let us know below...