Nottingham Forest are said to have scouted Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Reds have one more game to play before they turn their attention to tweaking Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad for the 2025/26 campaign. But behind the scenes work has already begun on putting transfer plans in place.
It is set to be a busy summer at the City Ground when the window opens next month. A number of players have already been linked with moves, and now the club are said to have their eye on Diarra.
According to The Sun, Forest have watched the 21-year-old in action recently as they weigh up whether to make a swoop. It is not the first time the Reds have been credited with an interest in the youngster, but they will face competition for his signature if they do decide to follow it up.
Everton are also said to have scouted the Senegal international, but it is Aston Villa who are seemingly in pole position to snap him up amid suggestions they are ready to put forward a £25 million offer.
Strasbourg are said to have already rejected a £15m bid from Eintracht Frankfurt for Diarra. However, they are reportedly “open” to doing a deal with a Premier League team.
Strasbourg is a club Forest have already done some business with this season. Defender Andrew Omobamidele joined the French club on loan in January and they hold an option to make his move permanent.
The Reds were first linked with Diarra in November 2023 and were said to have reignited their interest earlier this year. Back in January they were tipped to provide “strong competition” for his signature after keeping tabs on him for some time.
Able to operate as an attacking midfielder or winger, Diarra came through Strasbourg’s academy. He has already made 94 league appearances and bagged 10 goals for the club.
Reds head coach Nuno is a fan of players with the versatility to take up different roles. Although Forest are well stocked in the centre of the pitch, attacking areas - including out wide - are in need of being strengthened this summer.
Nuno’s seventh-placed side host Chelsea on the banks of the Trent on Sunday (4pm kick-off) in their final game of the Premier League season. They go into the clash still being in with a chance of securing the top-five finish required to qualify for the Champions League.
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