Nottingham Forest perhaps weren’t expecting to consider parting with Ibrahim Sangare this summer, but West Ham United’s interest has changed the complexion.
Sangare was brilliant against Brentford and even after a slight dip in his display against Crystal Palace on Sunday, the Ivorian finally looks to be establishing himself at the City Ground.
Just as his momentum is building, though, West Ham showed interest in Sangare to help revive their shocking start to the 25/26 campaign.
West Ham offered to take Sangare on loan with an option to buy from Forest, who have now set out clear conditions for the Hammers should their interest in the 27-year-old persist.
Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare arrives to play at Crystal Palace
Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Nottingham Forest set demands for Ibrahim Sangare
Sangare also impressed in pre-season in matches that weren’t exactly thrilling, but did showcase his ability to add composure to what is an energetic collection of midfielders at Nuno Espírito Santo’s disposal.
However, Douglas Luiz’s arrival at Forest has perhaps added competition for the Ivorian, with Fabrizio Romano now detailing the conditions that could tempt Forest into cashing in.
Romano has stated that, after rejecting West Ham’s loan bid, Forest have made it clear that only a permanent sale will be considered in the case of Sangare, which could also be in the form of a loan with a guaranteed obligation to buy.
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The ball is in the Hammers’ court then if they truly want to pursue a deal for Sangare. On Forest’s side, putting Luiz in the deeper role may somewhat limit his attacking output, but he has shown a capacity to be impactful in the defensive areas.
Douglas Luiz would be able to replace Ibrahim Sangare
A player of Luiz’s talents is perhaps not best utilised in a deep midfield position, but with Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White his likely partners in the middle, Luiz would be the most natural Sangare replacement.
Statistic Douglas Luiz 23/24
Tackles won % 65.5%
Dribbled past per 90 0.84
Duels won per 90 4.44
Pass accuracy % 89.4%
In his last season in the Premier League, Luiz played in a two-man midfield at Aston Villa, where he was able to show off his defensive abilities.
Luiz won 65.5% of his tackles in the Premier League that season, as well as 4.44 duels per 90 minutes. He clearly has the defensive attributes, then, and his composure in the midfield should be able to match Sangare’s comfortably.
The only glaring difference for Espírito Santo to contend with will be physically, with Sangare standing at six foot three compared to Luiz at five foot nine, but his ability on the ball would hopefully be enough to compensate.