Nottingham Forest are going to be trying to strengthen their team across the pitch ahead of next season.
The Reds will be in the UEFA Conference League during 2025/26, and with the Premier League fixtures now released, the excitement is starting to build.
Forest have signed Igor Jesus already this summer, with an official announcement set to come once Botafogo’s participation in the Club World Cup ends.
Jair Cunha is joining Forest alongside Jesus, and the central defender should bolster a defensive unit that perhaps needs minor tweaks rather than a major overhaul.
Defensive links do seem to be quite forthcoming at the moment, and now, Forest are going to rival one of the Premier League’s giant clubs for a centre-back.
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Nottingham Forest want Arouna Sangante
According to French outlet Le Quotidien, Forest and Manchester United are going head-to-head for the defender this summer.
Le Havre have a solid reputation for producing young players, and Sangante looks to be close to fleeing the nest and heading to one of Europe’s top divisions.
Sangante is only valued at around £6.5 million and, perhaps crucially, his current club are not ruling out a sale for the Senegal international.
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The defender scored three goals in 16 appearances last season, with Stuttgart, Augsburg, Sevilla and Marseille all thought to be keen on the player too.
Sangante is out of contract next summer, and if a cut-price deal can be done this summer, it could prove a sound investment for the future.
Sangante idolises Real Madrid star Antonio Rudiger
There is perhaps an argument that Forest don’t need another centre-back as an immediate priority.
Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo were fantastic during the 2024/25 campaign, with Morato doing an adequate job as a backup option.
Willy Boly has also been offered a new deal, whilst Cunha will arrive to bolster the ranks too.
With that in mind, any player who does come in defensively might only be subject to someone going out in the opposite direction.
Sangante does look to have a nice profile from a Forest perspective, however.
Get Football News France claims that the Senegal performer models his game on Rudiger, with the Champions League defender among the best in the world.
Forest might be foolish not to move for Sangante given the fact that he’s currently available for a bargain price.
United will provide stern competition, but with the UEFA Conference League on offer at Forest in the short term, perhaps Sangante will see his future on Trentside if an offer is made.