PSV Eindhoven coach Peter Bosz appears to have confirmed reports suggesting that Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest have agreed a £30 million fee for Ibrahim Sangare.
After weeks of speculation – and after failed bids for Florentino Luis (Benfica), Youssouf Fofana (AS Monaco) and Wilmar Barrios (Zenit St Petersburg) – Nottingham Forest appear to be closing in on the man who started the window as their number one central midfield target.
According to the Daily Mail, Forest and PSV have agreed on a fee of £30 million for Ibrahim Sangare. Although the deal is still on hold until Brennan Johnson completes his City Ground exit and puts pen to paper with Tottenham Hotspur.
Former Bayer Leverkusen, Dortmund and Ajax coach Bosz, meanwhile, suggests in his deadline day press conference that the Mail’s report is, indeed, accurate.
But the final decision will still be Sangare’s.
Nottingham Forest agree Ibrahim Sangare fee with PSV
“It’s still busy, yes,” Bosz tells Voetbal Primeur and Soccernews. “It is not yet 100 percent clear about Sangare. At the moment we do not know whether he will leave or stay.
“Ultimately, he decides for himself. When the selling and buying parties have settled (on a fee), he has to give to deliver the final blow.”
The powerhouse Ivorian has, with all due respect to Steve Cooper’s two-time European champions, caught the eye of clubs far higher up the footballing pyramid this summer.
But, with Liverpool, Bayern Munich and PSG seemingly turning their attention elsewhere (the Bundesliga champions are closing in on Fulham’s Joao Palhinha instead), Nottingham Forest may find themselves with a surprisingly clear run at one of Europe’s most underrated midfield talents.
Forest are also signing fellow midfielder Nicolas Dominguez from Bologna.
“I think he’s a great player,” Dutch legend Ronald De Boer tells Voetbal Nieuws of Sangare.
“I think PSV cannot keep him. He will still go to a real top team such as Liverpool. Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain? In my opinion, he can handle that.
“I always say; if you give him the Claude Makelele role – (where he can) take the ball and pass it on to someone who can play football well – then he is a golden player for your team.
“You need those kinds of players in your team.”
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