---
title: "Nottingham Forest: The Reds eyeing Issa Kabore"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/nottingham-forest-issa-kabore-djed-spence-transfer-gossip-news/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Clubbe"
section: "Nottingham Forest News"
published: "2022-06-22T19:10:35Z"
modified: "2022-06-22T19:10:35Z"
---

# Nottingham Forest: The Reds eyeing Issa Kabore

**[Nottingham Forest](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/nottingham-forest-news/) are reportedly interested in signing Manchester City full-back Issa Kabore, according to [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3374226/2022/06/21/forest-transfers-awoniyi-henderson-niakhate/?source=emp_shared_article).**

### The lowdown: Kabore profiled

Signed from Belgian top-flight club KV Mechelen in 2020, Man City immediately allowed the right-back to [return on loan](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/issa-kabore/transfers/spieler/649452) before sanctioning a temporary spell at French Ligue 1 side Troyes last season.

As things stand the 21-year-old is yet to make a single senior outing for the Premier League champions but remains a highly-rated prospect, having been named the [best young player](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/city-kabore-afcon-young-player-23010187) at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Now as Forest boss Steve Cooper seeks an alternative to the [reportedly](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/djed-spence-tottenham-transfer-latest-b1007675.html) Tottenham-bound Djed Spence after the youngster enjoyed a glittering loan spell at the City Ground, Kabore could be the chosen one…

### The latest: Reds keen

As per [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3374226/2022/06/21/forest-transfers-awoniyi-henderson-niakhate/?source=emp_shared_article), Forest are believed to be ‘monitoring’ Kabore ahead of a potential summer swoop.

It’s claimed that the [27-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/issa-kabore/nationalmannschaft/spieler/649452/verein_id/5872) Burkina Faso defender is viewed as a player with ‘similar character to Spence’ and is ‘hungry to prove himself’ to the top level.

The report makes no mention of a fee for the youngster hailed as [‘outstanding’](https://twitter.com/AntonioMango4/status/1490286983041765376) by European football expert Antonio Mango, who even tipped him as a potential Kyle Walker successor.

### The verdict: Test the water

Valued at just £3.6million but under contract until 2025 ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/issa-kabore/marktwertverlauf/spieler/649452)), Kabore is [expected](https://www.goal.com/en-cm/news/issa-kabore-manchester-city-plan-afcon-best-young-player/blte6a41dcf9edcfec3) to spend time out on loan once again next season due to being behind two world-class right full-backs in Walker and the versatile Joao Cancelo in Manchester.

During the 2021/22 season, the right-back earned a 6.60 [Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/player/issa-kabore/1006189) rating whilst winning 4.7 duels and completing 1.5 successful dribbles on average per league game, less than Spence’s [5.8 duels](https://www.sofascore.com/player/djed-spence/945798) and 1.8 completed dribbles.

Capable of operating as a [right-sided midfielder](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/issa-kabore/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/649452) as well as a right-back, Kabore appears ideally suited to play in Cooper’s [system](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10710835/Steve-Cooper-transformed-Nottingham-Forest-hunt-Bournemouth.html) as a wing-back and as such the City Ground hierarchy should perhaps test the waters with a temporary move, including an option to buy in case he shines in Spence’s shoes next season.