Nottingham Forest will have to break their transfer record if they are to sign Kevin McDonald from Championship rivals Fulham.

Mark Warburton is believed to be a keen admirer of the 28-year-old Scotsman, and had been hoping to seal a £3 million deal, according to the Sun.

The Craven Cottage outfit however, are keen to avoid losing the former Burnley man and have slapped a hefty price tag on his shoulders in a bid to ward off ambitious Forest.

McDonald has been attracting interest from the top flight, with newly promoted Brighton said to have been keen on the midfielder, who were readying a £2 million bid earlier this month according to reports.

Reds boss Warburton is keen to strengthen his midfield options ahead of the new Championship season and could see McDonald as the ideal man to do just that.

Warburton’s former club Rangers were also linked to the Fulham man who clocked up an impressive 48 appearances for the Craven Cottage club last season, netting three times in a campaign that ended in defeat against Reading in the play-off semi-final.

Fulham are desperate to hold onto McDonald, along with star performer Tom Cairney who has been the subject of continued interest from Newcastle, following their promotion to the Premier League.