Nottingham Forest will look to complete a permanent move for Costel Pantilimon this summer, reports claim.

The Watford stopper has impressed since joining the Championship side on loan and have kept clean sheets in each of his last three games.

His form has helped Forest put a 13-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone and they occupy 16th spot with eight games to play this season.

Pantilimon experienced a tough start to life at the City Ground and was on the receiving end of back-to-back 2-0 losses in his first two games.

However, since then he has helped Forest embark on a seven game unbeaten league run and caught the eye with some important saves.

The 0-0 draw with local rivals earlier this month was a particularly productive outing for Pantilimon and he made a number of fine stops to ensure Forest earned a share of the spoils.

The former Manchester City man’s displays mean it is little surprise Forest are keen to secure his services long-term and a move would also appear to suit the big Romanian.

Watford’s January acquisition of talented Swede Pontus Dahlberg, who at 19 has huge potential to develop, has added competition to an already lively fight to be the Hornets number one.

Orestis Karnezis is currently in possession of the gloves having come in for the injured Heurelho Gomes in January and Daniel Bachman is also an option for Javi Gracia.

Chances will, therefore, be at a premium for Pantilimon were he to return to Vicarage Road upon the completion of his loan deal in the summer.

Staying with Aitor Karanka’s side could well be the best way for the 31-year-old to establish himself as a regular starter for the first time since his spell at Sunderland between 2014 and 2016.

Pantilimon was never really able to apply genuine pressure to Gomes for the big Brazilian’s starting spot and has just two Premier League appearances to his name at Watford.

He spent the first half of the season on loan at Deportivo La Coruna, where he made six outings before completing a deadline day move to Forest in January.