Newcastle supporters make same Matz Sels FFP point amid Nottingham Forest move
RC Strasbourg/YouTubeNottingham Forest are working on a deal to sign former Newcastle United goalkeeper Matz Sels on transfer deadline day.
According to the Athletic, terms have been agreed with the Belgium international, 31, who is keen on a return to England, five-and-a-half years after leaving the Magpies.
However, terms have not been agreed yet with his club Strasbourg but Sels is ready to fly to Nottingham for a medical to complete his move later today.
Sels has impressed in France and was named Ligue 1 goalkeeper of the season in 2021/22 and helped Strasbourg win the Coupe de la Ligue in his first season at the club.
However, he had to rebuild his career in Ligue 1 after a poor spell at Newcastle. He joined the club in 2016 under Rafa Benitez in the Championship.
But Sels only managed nine league appearances before losing his place in the team and then being shipped off on loan to Anderlecht in his second season on Tyneside.
Sels keen to prove Newcastle wrong but fans are unconvinced
Speaking to the Official Ligue 1 Podcast, Le Beau Jeu, back in 2018, Sels admitted he failed to fulfil his promise on Tyneside but is keen to prove he was a good signing for the club.
“It was really difficult in the beginning. Newcastle took me as a No 1, so I needed to be ready immediately, and maybe that was the thing. Maybe I was not ready immediately from the beginning because I needed a few months more to adapt.
“But that is the past; now I try to look forward, work hard, and maybe in the future I will get another opportunity to show the people that it was unlucky for me.
“I hope I can show them that I was a good signing for them [Newcastle]. But now I’m here [at Strasbourg], I’m really happy, we’ve played a good season, and hopefully we can play in Europe next season.”
But Newcastle fans are unconvinced and with Nottingham Forest currently fighting against charges for breaches of Financial Fair Play, they are asking about the logic behind signing Sels when they already have three goalkeepers on their books.
Newcastle fan Ryan Gray took to X to tweet: “A club already in trouble for FFP/PSR breaches is risking making things worse by signing Matz Sels – what a choice that is.”
Another fan tweeted: “Failed number one at Newcastle a few seasons back, I hope he’s improved his handling. I seem to remember he bundled a few.”