Nottingham Forest have reportedly agreed a deal to sign PSV midfielder Ibrahim Sangare, who has attracted interest from Liverpool.
Sangare is one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe and helped PSV qualify for the Champions League with a 7-3 play-off aggregate victory over Rangers.
The Ivorian midfielder has been linked with a host of clubs this summer, with Liverpool and Bayern Munich both believed to be keen.
Bayern have since turned their attention to Fulham’s Joao Palhinha, with Ryan Gravenberch joining the Reds from the German outfit in what has been a bit of a midfield domino effect in recent hours.
Sangare would be a huge coup for Nottingham Forest, who have already completed the loan signing of Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares on deadline day.
Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea and Odisseas Vlachodimos of Benfica are anticipated to follow Tavares through the door on Friday.
PSV midfielder Sangare, who is anticipated to join Forest for roughly £30 million, was probably the greatest acquisition of the day. Bargain.
First broken by Sky Germany correspondent Florian Plettenberg, it is a ‘done deal’ and Sangare may be regarded as a ‘new player of Forest’.
Plettenberg has confirmed that the Ivorian international will sign a five-year contract with the City Ground.
Forest are ‘closing in’ on the deal, according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, with Hudson-Odoi and Vlachodimos ‘also joining the club’.
Meanwhile, French journalist Santi Aouna of Foot Mercato reports the transfer is nearly final after Sangare accepted a move to the Premier League side despite having Champions League football on offer in Eindhoven.
It has also been widely reported that Sangare’s PSV colleague Johan Bakayoko will not leave the club before the transfer deadline of Friday at 11 p.m.
Over the last few weeks, Bakayoko has been connected with moves to Liverpool, Burnley, and Brentford.
PSV reportedly rejected the Clarets’ £17m deal, with the Bees stepping in on Thursday night with a £34m offer.
Brentford are ‘on the verge’ of signing Bakayoko, who also impressed against Rangers, according to Romano.
This currently appears doubtful, with the 20-year-old Belgian preferring Champions League play with PSV than Premier League mediocrity in the middle of the table.
According to Romano, Brentford will likely re-sign Bakayoko in January, albeit this will depend on whether or not the Dutch team advances from their Champions League group.
The Italian journalist wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Johan Bakayoko has communicated to Brentford that he’s NOT joining them. Final decision confirmed.
“Despite deal almost agreed between clubs, Bakayoko decides to stay at PSV in order to play Champions League football.
“Brentford remain keen on signing him in January.”
