Nottingham Forest have signed Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca on loan until the end of the season, with an option to buy the Italy international in the summer.
Lucca, 25, has struggled for game time with Napoli since joining from Udinese last July, netting just once in 16 Serie A appearances and four starts, while also scoring once in the Coppa Italia.
The 6ft 7in forward brings "specific qualities to our team", according to Forest's global head of football Edu. He has experience playing at the top level, having had spells with Palermo, Pisa, and a loan stint with Ajax.
Lucca's arrival comes as Forest boss Sean Dyche searches for a new striker, with no timeframe on the return of last season's 20-goal top scorer Chris Wood following knee surgery in December.
Forest are also interested in Lucca's Napoli team-mate Mathias Olivera, 28, as they assess their left-back options.
The move is Forest's latest attempt to strengthen their squad and climb up the Premier League table. With the season nearing its end, Forest are five points above the bottom three but still have work to do to avoid relegation.
Lucca's loan spell could provide a boost for Forest as they look to secure their top-flight status in England.
Lucca, 25, has struggled for game time with Napoli since joining from Udinese last July, netting just once in 16 Serie A appearances and four starts, while also scoring once in the Coppa Italia.
The 6ft 7in forward brings "specific qualities to our team", according to Forest's global head of football Edu. He has experience playing at the top level, having had spells with Palermo, Pisa, and a loan stint with Ajax.
Lucca's arrival comes as Forest boss Sean Dyche searches for a new striker, with no timeframe on the return of last season's 20-goal top scorer Chris Wood following knee surgery in December.
Forest are also interested in Lucca's Napoli team-mate Mathias Olivera, 28, as they assess their left-back options.
The move is Forest's latest attempt to strengthen their squad and climb up the Premier League table. With the season nearing its end, Forest are five points above the bottom three but still have work to do to avoid relegation.
Lucca's loan spell could provide a boost for Forest as they look to secure their top-flight status in England.
. They're definitely looking to bolster their squad and I reckon Lucca's got some decent qualities that can help them out 
️. It's not ideal that he's been struggling with game time at Napoli, but sometimes a fresh start in a new league can work wonders 
. The fact that they've got an option to buy him in the summer gives them flexibility and makes it worth taking the risk 
. With Dyche trying to find a new striker and Olivera potentially interested too, I think Forest are on the right track 
. Five points above the bottom three is a decent position, but we all know how unpredictable the Premier League can be 
...
. But hey, maybe Forest can help him score some more goals and make a better impression? I'm curious to see how this works out for them. They're trying to avoid getting relegated, which would be a bummer 
. Fingers crossed that Lucca can bring some fresh energy to the team and help them stay up in the Premier League! 
He's only scored like once every two games for them. Still, the lad's a tall order at 6ft 7in and might give Forest some cause for optimism up front. 
But what about Mathias Olivera though? 
, another loan signing just what we need. I mean, think about it, this kid's been struggling at Napoli and now he's gonna come in here and save the day? 
I'm not buying it. Forest needs a real striker, someone who can score goals not just bring "specific qualities" to the team 
. We need stability, not another player who'll be leaving in the summer 
.
what if he doesn't deliver? 
. Can't wait to see Lucca shine and help Forest stay up 
. Napoli must be getting a bit tired of having him on the bench, I feel bad for the guy 
.
Anyway, back to football... have you guys ever noticed how some players just seem to lose their mojo after joining new teams? Like, what's wrong with Lucca that he can't even get game time at Napoli, one of the biggest clubs in Italy? 
. Sorry about that! Where was I? Ah yeah, Lucca... I guess he's got some skills if he played for Ajax and all but maybe they didn't give him the same opportunities as they do at other teams 
. The fact that he's got experience playing at top level will surely come in handy. I mean, who doesn't love a good underdog story? 
Forest's gotta give it a try, right? They're still 5 points away from the bottom three, so this could be just what they need to boost their chances of staying up 
but seriously though, are we really sure this will work out for forest?
.