Premier League captain rejected ‘significant pay rise’ at Nottingham Forest

Lewis Dunk rejected a move to Nottingham Forest on the final week of the transfer window, talkSPORT understands.

Out of respect to their captain, Brighton presented the offer to Dunk, but he underlined his commitment to the Seagulls.

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The England international would have netted a significant pay rise by moving to the City Ground.

Forest are set to travel to the south coast to face Fabian Hurzeler’s side in the Premier League on March 1.

Dunk has spent his entire senior career with Brighton, having joined the club’s academy aged 12.

The 34-year-old has since won promotions from both League One and the Championship with his boyhood club.

Meanwhile, he has played a key role in their nine consecutive seasons in the Premier League.

Those campaigns include the club’s highest-ever league finish of sixth during the 2022/23 campaign.

As a result, Brighton qualified for European football for the first time, reaching the last 16 of the Europa League the following season.

Dunk has made 510 appearances for the Seagulls, including 290 in the Premier League.

The defender, who was named captain in 2019, signed a new deal in December through to the end of next season.

Brighton currently sit 14th in the Premier League, eight points clear of the relegation zone.

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As for Forest, Sean Dyche’s side are embroiled in a relegation battle alongside their European exploits.

Following their defeat away to Leeds on Friday, they are just three points above 18th-place West Ham.

Meanwhile, Forest face Fenerbahce home and away this month in the Europa League knockout play-off.

Having missed out on signing Dunk, the two-time European Cup winners were unable to add a new centre-back before last week’s transfer deadline.

Instead, Dyche was forced to settle for just three new arrivals during the January transfer window.

Italian striker Lorenzo Lucca signed on loan from Napoli, along with permanent deals for Luca Netz and Stefan Ortega.

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However, an injury to Murillo against Leeds has provided a selection headache for Forest at centre-back.

Nikola Milenkovic, Morato, Jair Cunha, Willy Boly and Zach Abbott remain options available to Dyche, though.