Swansea close in on Forest midfielder Stamenic

Midfielder Marko Stamenic has not played a competitive game for Forest since signing in June 2024

Swansea City are closing in on the permanent signing of Marko Stamenic from Nottingham Forest.

The New Zealand midfielder joined Nuno Espirito Santo's side from Serbian outfit Red Star Belgrade in the summer of 2024 but spent the entirety of last season on loan at Greek side Olympiacos.

The 23-year-old was at the Swansea.com Stadium on Saturday to watch Alan Sheehan's team beat Sheffield United 1-0.

"Marco is a player that we've been after for a while. He'll bring some physicality, athleticism and [he's] another international coming in the building," said Sheehan.

"He's showed a real willingness, a real good character, which is so important because we want bring in players and sometimes we want them in sooner, but getting the right people for what we're trying to do is so important for the football club.

"Don't just sign anybody, it's got to be the right ones that fit into our group to how we want to play. So to bring Marco in is a really good signing.

"You need to be as strong as you can in the middle. It gives us options whether we can play three or four in there sometimes, which is potentially something to look at for us."

Stamenic has won 31 caps, scoring three goals, for his country and will become Swansea's ninth signing of the summer.

He started his professional career in his homeland with Porirua-based Western Suburbs before joining Copenhagen following a year with Team Wellington.

Stamenic was loaned out to HB Koge in Denmark before moving to Serbia in 2023.

He featured 23 times in the Greek top flight last season and is now set to leave the City Ground without making a competitive appearance for Forest.