Nottingham Forest close in on £25m Daniel Munoz deal as Crystal Palace prepare for life without him

Nottingham Forest are closing in on a deal worth up to £25m for Crystal Palace right-back Daniel Munoz, with the player travelling to Nottingham to finalise the transfer before Tuesday's deadline.

Talks between the two clubs accelerated after Palace's 4-1 defeat by Manchester City on Friday night, and an agreement is now understood to be close. Forest's opening bid of £22m — a £20m initial fee plus £2m in add-ons — has moved quickly toward a higher figure as the hours tick down.

Munoz, 30, has just under two years left on his Palace contract, but the club is prepared to sell him this summer. Palace signed the Colombian defender from Belgian side Genk in January 2024, when he was 27, and he has since established himself as a reliable Premier League performer.

His likely replacement is already through the door. Palace signed Anan Khalaili from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise earlier this summer, and the Israel international is expected to step into Munoz's position at right-back.

For Forest, the move fits a clear pattern. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo has been adding proven top-flight talent to a squad that exceeded expectations last season, and Munoz brings experience across English, Belgian, and Colombian football. Forest have also been pursuing a deal for Igor Jesus in the same window, according to BBC Sport, as they look to strengthen on multiple fronts before the deadline.

For Palace, the calculus is straightforward. Munoz turns 31 later this season, his contract is winding down, and a fee approaching £25m represents strong value for a player signed for less than half that figure 18 months ago. Selling now, with a replacement already in the building, lets the club reinvest rather than risk losing him for less further down the line.

The transfer window closes on Tuesday, and both clubs have reason to move quickly. Forest want their man settled before the next round of fixtures. Palace want the structure of their defence sorted before the window shuts and the squad is locked in until January.

Munoz is en route to Nottingham, according to Yahoo Sports. If the final details fall into place, he will become one of Forest's most expensive signings — a statement of intent from a club that has stopped merely surviving and started building.