Andre Ayew: Nottingham Forest reach verbal agreement for free agent Ghana striker

Nottingham Forest have verbally agreed to sign free agent Andre Ayew until the end of the season.

Sky sports news understands Ayew is included in Forest’s 25-man squad list presented to the Premier League this afternoon. Ayew, who played under Cooper at Swansea, was also reportedly of interest to Everton on transfer deadline day.

However, it is not clear if boss Steve Cooper included Lewis O’Brien on that list at the expense of one of Forest’s injured players after his loan deal with Blackburn Rovers collapsed.

The situation is further complicated with Blackburn appealing the EFL’s decision to reject deadline day transfer requests for Ethan Brierley from O’Brien and Rochdale.

A statement from Blackburn said: “One of the deals was a very ambitious target and it has only been confirmed that it could come to us late Tuesday afternoon.

“Despite the Club’s best efforts to complete all required elements of this loan transfer, the filing deadline was delayed due to events which we believe are beyond our control and although the Club has provided extenuating reasons for the late filing of our request was rejected by the EFL today.

“Our application for the second deal – for the permanent transfer of a promising young player – was also delayed due to unsigned paperwork and technical issues the club encountered at the time of submission.

“The EFL has again not accepted that these issues were an obstacle to the timely filing of the documents and has also rejected this application.

“The club will now appeal the EFL’s decision to reject both applications and will submit documents before the Tuesday 7 February deadline.”

Forest’s defeat by Manchester United in the Caribou Cup on Wednesday night, coupled with their FA Cup elimination by Blackpool in January, means there are no other games O’Brien could play in unless he is in the Premier squad League of Forest is list.

Forest signed PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas, Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey and Atletico Madrid defender Felipe on Deadline Day to take the number of signings since the summer to 29.