Nashville SC 'close' to signing Sam Surridge from England's Nottingham Forest | Report

Reigning Major League Soccer MVP Hany Mukhtar has scored 43% of Nashville SC's goals in 2023. Now he's reportedly getting help from overseas.

Nashville is "close" to signing Nottingham Forest striker Sam Surridge for about $6.5 million, according to The Athletic. Surridge scored three goals and two assists in 27 appearances in all competitions last season for Forest. However, the 24-year-old became a cult hero with Stoke City and Forest in the second-tier English Championship, helping the latter achieve promotion to the Premier League.

The 6-foot-3 Englishman's price tag is just shy of former Nashville designated player Aké Loba's $6.8 million in July 2021. However, according to The Athletic, there are several add-ons involved in the deal that could bump the transfer fee to a club record. It is expected Surridge will be Nashville's third designated player, along with Mukhtar and Walker Zimmerman.

How Sam Surridge can help Nashville SC?

Let's start with scoring goals.

In the past five games, only attacking midfielder Randall Leal has scored (twice), and a Nashville center forward hasn't found the net since May 28. Mukhtar hasn't scored since his trick June 17 against St. Louis City SC.

But Surridge fits the Nashville bill in other ways, too.

Much like former Nashville striker CJ Sapong and current forward Teal Bunbury, Surridge is known for his high work rate on and off the ball. His size bodes well for Nashville on set pieces and works to set up running teammates when holding up the ball.

"He wins free kicks, he gets flick-ons . . . every time he is on the pitch, he will make something happen and that is a great trait for any player to have, but particularly a striker," Carl Fletcher, Surridge's former coach at AFC Bournemouth, told The Athletic in February 2022. "His height can help him make an impact. But he can take the ball to feet, he likes to run in behind and he is very mobile for his size. He is not a target man, he is very much an all-rounder type of forward. "

Sam Surridge partnering with Hany Mukhtar

Since Sapong's departure in late April, Mukhtar has partnered primarily with Bunbury up in a 4-4-2 formation, though he has teamed up with Jacob Shaffelburg and Luke Haakenson on rare occasions. All three of those partners have a common theme: versatility — in position and physicality. And Mukhtar has scored 10 goals in that span.

What to anticipate is Surridge's ability to showcase his quick passing and flick-on abilities in Nashville's lightning quick transition. Bunbury does that well.

Now, Nashville's diamond 4-4-2 starting lineup would look like this: goalkeeper Joe Willis; defenders Dan Lovitz, Jack Maher, Walker Zimmerman, Shaq Moore; midfielders Dax McCarty, Sean Davis, Fafa Picault, Randall Leal; forwards Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar.

Sam Surridge: At a glance

Surridge prepped at Bournemouth's academy and made his professional debut with the Cherries as a 20-year-old in February 2019. Since then, he has 213 appearances in England's top four tiers of professional soccer, scoring 52 goals and 18 assists.

In his career, he has played for Bournemouth, Yeovil Town, Oldham Athletic, Swansea City, Stoke City and Nottingham Forrest.

For stories about Nashville SC or Soccer in Tennessee, contact Drake Hills at DHills@gannett.com. Follow Drake on Twitter at @LiveLifeDrake. Connect with Drake on Instagram at @drakehillssoccer and on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville SC signing forward Sam Surridge from Nottingham Forest