The word insane has circulated widely in discussions about Nottingham Forest’s bid for Kodai Sano.
The latest to use it is Mark-Jan Fledderus, former director of FC Groningen and currently working for Como in Italy. Soccer News cover comments from him today and how he finds the sums mentioned ‘rather bizarre’.
Nottingham Forest targeted Sano at the end of the January transfer window. They came in with a €20m bid late in the window, but NEC Nijmegen rejected it.
Nottingham Forest fallout
Sport Witness have covered the fallout of that extensively since. Initial reports suggested the 22‑year‑old felt disappointed after Nottingham Forest saw their offer turned down.
That rejection then drew descriptions of insanity. That was the feeling as it would have been a new record sale for NEC. The record is currently Robin Roefs’ €10m move to Sunderland in the summer transfer window.
The Dutch side have instead gambled, preferring to keep the midfielder as they compete for second place in the Eredivisie this season. They have even openly encouraged Nottingham Forest to come back for Sano in the summer.
In the meantime, questions continue to come from outside sources. Fledderus is one of them, invoking the insanity description once again.
“Then I wonder if Sano is really worth that amount,” he said.
“It’s insanity! I think he’s a good player, but honestly, I think he’s a bit overhyped. I know the market and know what players normally cost twenty million. Then I wonder if Sano is really worth that amount. But well, apparently there are clubs that think so.
“It’s good for Dutch football that these kinds of amounts are being mentioned and actually offered. That says something about how much the Eredivisie is valued internationally.”
Will Nottingham Forest return?
It remains unclear whether Nottingham Forest will return with another €20m bid. That might not even be enough if NEC are successful this season.
It will all depend on if Forest can avoid relegation as well. At the moment, that’s going to be a race that goes down to the wire. And then it’s a question of whether Vitor Pereira, or a new manager, wants him anyway.
Fledderus certainly would have sold if he’d been in charge. And clearly thinks it’s insanity that the Dutch club didn’t.