Atletico Madrid's Saul Niguez in action with Bayer Leverkusen's Odilon Kossounou
Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen defender Odilon Kossounou, according to a recent report.
The Lowdown: Forest targeting defender
Nottingham Forest appear to be keen to bring in a new defender in the summer transfer window, with it recently reported that Jamaal Lascelles is being targeted for a summer transfer swoop.
The Tricky Trees also made an approach to bring Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah to the City Ground in the January transfer window, but they were unable to strike a deal, and could now turn their attentions to his teammate.
The Latest: Kossounou eyed
According to a report from The Sun, Forest are keeping an eye on Kossounou ahead of a potential move this summer, with his current club currently valuing him at £25m.
However, there will be competition for the centre-back’s signature, given that fellow Premier League clubs West Ham United and Leicester City are also interested.
The Verdict: Get it done?
Football scout Jacek Kulig has hailed the 6 foot 3 titan as having a ‘crazy amount of talent’, and he has displayed that in his performances over the past year.
The 22-year-old is dominant in the air, ranking in the 88th percentile compared to other defenders for aerials won per 90, while he also ranks in the 99th for clearances and 87th for blocks, highlighting his defensive acumen.
Forest signed Felipe at the back end of the January window, and Steve Cooper also has the likes of Willy Boly and Joe Worrall to choose from at centre-back, so he is well-stocked in that area of the pitch.
However, Kossounou would still be an excellent addition after multiple of Cooper’s options were struck down with injuries in recent weeks, and at 22 he is at the right age to be a dominant force in Forest’s backline for years to come.
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