Omari Hutchinson has joined AC Milan on loan with an option to make the move permanent.
Hutchinson was Nottingham Forest’s record signing when he joined from Ipswich in a £37.5m deal in August of last year and the club hierarchy believed they had signed one of the most promising players in the Premier League.
But Hutchinson found his opportunities limited under Nuno Espirito Santo, who was embroiled in the row over recruitment that was to play a significant part in his subsequent departure.
Nuno left Hutchinson out of the Forest squad for the first phase of the Europa League competition.
But the former Chelsea man did establish himself as a key figure following the appointment of Vitor Pereira as the club’s fourth coach of the campaign and had a role to play in Forest’s survival in their fight against relegation — and, once he had been included, in the club’s progression to the semi-finals of the Europa League.
Oliver Glasner had spoken to Hutchinson about slotting into the right-sided number 10 role he had previously occupied during his most successful spell at Ipswich, following his appointment in July.
But Hutchinson has nevertheless found himself heading out of the City Ground exit, amid competition for places in that position — and amid Glasner’s habit of rarely playing with wingers.
Morgan Gibbs-White, Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus all thrived in the two number 10 roles within Glasner’s preferred 3-4-2-1 formation at different stages of the 2-2 draw at Liverpool yesterday. Hutchinson will now look to prove that he can fulfil his potential in Serie A.
