Clear message sent amid surprise Nottingham Forest transfer 'approach'
Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare is said to have caught the eye of Rennes this month. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since September after undergoing hamstring surgery and has made only four appearances so far this season. But that seemingly hasn’t stopped him from attracting interest from elsewhere.
According to French publication Foot Mercato, Rennes want to strengthen their midfield ranks and view Sangare as an “attractive” prospect. Although contact is said to have been made, any hopes the French outfit had of snapping up the Ivory Coast international were quickly nipped in the bud.
It is reported Sangare made clear he has no plans to return to France, leaving Rennes to move on to other targets. The former PSV Eindhoven and Toulouse man is said to be focused on returning to fitness as he targets a comeback by the end of the month.
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Sangare has not featured for the Reds since the 1-1 draw at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers at the end of August. He sustained a hamstring problem prior to the September international break and had an operation soon after.
Last week, Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo said the midfielder remained some way off a return. As has been the case with fellow long-term absentee Danilo, who returned to action from a broken ankle against Luton Town in the FA Cup, the club have been treading carefully with Sangare and he will be eased back in gradually.
“It is good to see Ibrahim working on the grass, even if he is still working on his own,” Nuno said. “It will be a big boost for us to have him back as well. But it will take a while. We need to integrate him back into the group. We need to get him ready.”
In a video posted on the club’s YouTube channel, Sangare said of his recovery: “Mentally, it was pretty tough. But we’re athletes, you go through times like these. But now I’m starting to feel good physically and I’m really happy.”
Sangare made the switch to the City Ground from PSV in the summer of 2023. Last season, he featured 17 times in the Garibaldi.
Forest are unlikely to sanction too many outgoings before the January transfer window closes on February 3. Nuno has spoken about how the club’s priority is to hang on to their key men, in a repeat of their strategy from the summer.
