Nottingham Forest have rejected a sensational swap deal involving their talisman Chris Wood and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé.

Forest’s board rebuffed Real’s player-plus-cash offer for their leading goal scorer with manager Nuno Espirito Santo labelling the bid as ‘insulting’.

The news will come as a blow to World Cup winner Mbappé who has his heart set on a move to the City Ground.

‘The offer is a real slap in the face to a player of Woodsy’s calibre’, Nuno said when questioned about a possible deal.

‘Real would need to throw in Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and the spectre of Alfredo Di Stéfano too before we’d even consider it.

‘No disrespect to the lad Mbappé, he’s a decent player but he’s just not in Woodsy’s league’, claimed the Portuguese.

When Real boss Carlo Ancelotti was asked whether his side were still capable of winning this season’s Champions League without Woods’ services, the question was met with a raised eyebrow.

‘No chance’, the Italian tactician told us.

‘Never mind the European Cup, we’ll be lucky to stay up without Woodsy’.

Meanwhile, FIFA have announced Wood as the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner 10 months ahead of schedule.

France Football said Wood was the clear and obvious winner of the prestigious award, with the New Zealander fending off challenges from Forest teammate Anthony Elanga and the version of Harry Maguire since Ruben Amorim took charge of Manchester United.

‘Not even a big fat brown envelope from Lionel Messi’s agent could stop us from recognising Chris Wood as the world’s greatest player – perhaps of all time’, a spokesperson for France Football told Paddy Power News.

In related news, Newcastle United have asked the Premier League to make Wood take a DNA test after refusing to believe the 33-year-old goal machine is same player they spent £25m on 3-years-ago.

However, with the Geordie outfit struggling to adhere to the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSRs) and DNA tests proving costly, club chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan has started a petition to bring back The Jeremy Kyle Show.

‘Grow a set’, Al-Rumayyan told ITV bosses who axed the show.

*Paddy Power News’s footy news is pure fantasy – don’t believe it for a second

Get more tips, offers and news from Paddy Power

• Premier League give Everton points back after Dyche sacking
• Football Accumulator Tips: @FootyAccums’ midweek mega punt from across the leagues
• Next Premier League manager to be sacked: Latest sack race odds for 2024/25 season
• The BIGGER 180: Paddy Power donates over £1 million to Prostate Cancer UK 
• Shoot on over to Paddy Power News for the best Football Betting Tips & News

THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW