Reported Fenerbahce target Yohan Benalouane has not featured in Sabri Lamouchi’s first two games in the Championship.
Most Championship managers can only dream of being able to field two entirely different starting XIs on a weekly basis. England’s second tier is a 46-game slog, after all, and a couple of injuries or suspensions can strip a squad down to it’s bare bones in the blinking of an eye. Depth is key.
But Sabri Lamouchi finds himself in a rather strange position. He wants and needs to strip down a Nottingham Forest squad with a staggering 39 first-team members before it is too late.
There is depth, and then there’s a 15-strong batch of completely superfluous players, from Jason Cummings to Daryl Murphy, Michael Hefele to Zach Clough.
But what about Yohan Benalouane?
A towering Tunisian brought to Forest in January by Martin O’Neill, the 32-year-old is one of seven, yes seven, centre-backs currently jostling for a place at the City Ground.
But after missing the first few games of the season, it is difficult to see Benalouane getting back into the team ahead of Joe Worrall and Michael Dawson, captain and Man of the Match in Saturday’s draw at Leeds.
According to Ajansspor, Fenerbahce are interested in taking the former Leicester City flop off Forest’s hands. But supporters have been left divided by the prospect of Benalouane swapping the East Midlands for Istanbul. Which way will Lamouchi swing?
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