Much has been made of Nottingham Forest's inability to sign a new centre-forward before last week's transfer deadline.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side had a bid rejected by Brentford for Yoane Wissa. They missed out on Omar Marmoush when the Egyptian hitman opted to stay with Eintracht Frankfurt.

And, as Feyenoord chief Dennis te Kloese explains, a PS28 million deal for Santiago Gimenez collapsed after the 2023 Eredivisie winner realised that he was not '100 per cent convinced' by a switch to the City Ground.

But, while the lack of strikers was perhaps the biggest talking point amongst Nottingham Forest fans during the final few days of the window, it appears that the two-time European Champions also missed out on one of their leading targets for the midfield role too.

HITC reported that Leicester City, Fulham, Everton and AFC Bournemouth had shown an interest in Roma ace Edoardo Bove. Nottingham Forest were also in the mix, however.

And Bove's agent now confirms that the East Midlands outfit were the closest of all his Premier League suitors to getting a deal done.

"It was a strange summer for Bove. We can't explain why, but there was no room for him in Roma and so we started looking around," Diego Tavano, the 22-year-old's representative, tells Radio Firenze Viola.

"There were several solutions. The hottest was Nottingham Forest, but also Ligue 1."

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Tavano insists that Bove jumped at the chance to join Fiorentina when they made their interest known. The Italy Under 21 international arrives to form a new-look midfield with Amir Richardson, the former Tottenham and Everton target who arrived from Reims.

"Having brought Richardson first during the summer, I understood that Fiorentina had something important to say," the agent adds. "There is a great history in Florence as well as a serious club with a high-level project.

"He is really happy. He knows he made the right choice."

Jose Mourinho is a big fan Bove was a favourite of Jose Mourinho during his time in the Stadio Olimpico dugout.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Chelsea boss made the academy graduate a regular in his Giallorossi team, praising what Bove brought to the table 'technically, tactically and mentally'.

Comparisons have been drawn with Italy legend Gennaro Gattuso. Tavano, however, believes that his client is more than a high-pressing demon, highlighting Bove's often underrated technical qualities.

"Gattuso was the king of pressing, while Bove is much more," the agent adds. "He has the skills of an attacking midfielder.

"Perhaps Roma's request was to play more and they must have thought that he was not ready. But that is not the case. He is a physical and generous footballer. He will become that complete player ready to be a resource both for Fiorentina and, I hope, for the national team."

Nottingham Forest would eventually bring in James Ward-Prowse on loan from West Ham on deadline day while Bove was putting pen to paper with Firoentina.