Reports suggest Forest are closing in on Muñoz, the Crystal Palace full-back who has built a strong reputation as an aggressive right-sided option. He is primarily valued for his running power, recovery speed and willingness to play high up the pitch. Those traits fit the profile of a modern Premier League wing-back or attacking full-back far more than a conservative, deep defender.
A same-league move would also reduce adaptation risk. Forest would not be signing potential alone; they would be targeting a player already familiar with the tempo, physical demands and tactical detail of the division.
Forest’s transfer logic looks straightforward. In the Premier League, full-backs increasingly drive chance creation, pressing structure and defensive transitions. Muñoz’s game is built around those phases. He can stretch the pitch in possession and still cover ground quickly when play turns.
That matters for a team trying to sustain results across a long season. Another report noted Forest’s 2-2 draw at Liverpool on Saturday, a result that highlighted both their competitive level and the margin for error against top opponents. In those matches, wide defenders are constantly exposed in one-v-one situations and asked to support counters. Muñoz has the profile for that workload.
The next step is whether talks become a completed agreement. Until that happens, this remains an advanced transfer rather than a confirmed one. If the move goes through, the main questions will be tactical: whether Forest use Muñoz as a traditional right-back or higher as a wing-back, and how quickly he is integrated into their starting structure.
Either way, the reported pursuit signals intent. Forest appear to be targeting readiness, not projection.