Nottingham Forest have been dealt a major blow in their bid to bring Cyrus Christie back to the City Ground this summer.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by Sky Sports (via Football League World), who claim that the right-back's proposed move to Forest appears to have broken down, with it being reported that Dane Murphy failed to find a resolution regarding personal terms with the Fulham defender.

The report goes on to state that the 28-year-old has just one year remaining on his current contract at Craven Cottage, suggesting that, should Marco Silva's side wish to receive any sort of fee for the Republic of Ireland international, they will have to sanction his sale this summer.

Hughton will be gutted

Considering just how impressive Christie was during his loan spell at Forest last season, in addition to the fact that Hughton is currently experiencing something of a defensive injury crisis at the City Ground, the fact that a move for the right-back looks to have broken down is sure to have left the 62-year-old gutted.

Indeed, over his 44 Championship appearances for the Garibaldi last term, the £1.35m-rated man helped his side keep a whopping 14 clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.6 interceptions, 1.8 tackles, 2.2 clearances and winning 5.3 duels per game.

The player Martin O'Neill dubbed a "brilliant" talent also impressed in a creative capacity, registering three assists, creating three big chances for his teammates and making an average of one key pass per match.

These returns saw the £20k-per-week defender earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.99, ranking him as Hughton's third-best performer in the second tier of English football.

As such, the addition of Christie would have certainly appeared to provide Hughton with a significant boost at a time when he desperately is in need of one, with his Forest side having lost all four of their opening fixtures of the Championship season, leaving them rooted to the foot of the table.

However, with a move for the Irishman now looking to be dead in the water, the Reds manager will have to turn his attention in what remains of the summer transfer window elsewhere regarding his search for defensive reinforcements - something that will undoubtedly be an extremely frustrating outcome for the 62-year-old.

In other news: Lost 100% duels: £720k-rated NFFC who made just 5 passes badly failed Hughton vs Stoke