Championship side Nottingham Forest are set to benefit from Lincoln City midfielder Jorge Grant's likely departure this summer according to Nottinghamshire Live, with the two sides agreeing a 'substantial' sell-on clause for the 26-year-old back in 2019.

With Grant receiving limited first-team opportunities at the City Ground after spending several spells out on loan in the lower leagues, he joined the Imps permanently two years ago for an undisclosed fee and has played in part in the League One side's rise in recent years.

He scored 13 goals and managed to record seven assists in the league last season as his side narrowly missed out on a place in the Championship, losing 2-1 to Blackpool in last month's League One play-off final.

However, Grant may not be in the third tier for much longer, with Championship sides reported to be interested in acquiring the 26-year-old's services.

According to Lincolnshire Live, clubs in the second tier will be able to sign the midfielder if they meet his buy-out clause and if they do and the deal goes through, his former club Nottingham Forest will receive a welcomed windfall as they look to strengthen in the summer.

It is currently unknown what that fee is - but Norwich City, Brentford, Reading and Swansea City were all keeping tabs on him last season as per a TEAMtalk exclusive.

The Verdict:

Any cash that can be generated in the East Midlands will be much-welcomed by Chris Hughton, although there are questions over whether he should have been let go in the first place.

However, Grant has richly benefitted from two full seasons in the third tier and he may not have developed into such an exciting player if he hadn't have had the opportunity to settle down in a permanent home.

Loans can only benefit a player so much, but Grant managed to get the opportunity to leave permanently, took it with both hands and is now reaping the rewards of this brave leap. With this, he is almost certain to leave the LNER Stadium and Nottingham Forest will be all the richer for it.