Well, it wasn't much more than a Tweet from a semi-retired, rumor-mill veteran:
— MLS Transfers (@MLSTransfers) September 1, 2016
And now it is conclusively over.
Forest is off to a decent start in England's second tier - seventh in the table after five games - but is one of several Championship clubs with a history that recommends it to the top flight. The maverick Danish striker might be the man to put one of English football's long-term underachievers back in the Premier League.
And the New York Red Bulls can quietly be grateful for having one less famous name on the market to deny having any interest in signing.