Liverpool ‘left behind’ by Nottingham Forest in race for £30m midfielder as Spurs, Brentford battle over Johnson | OneFootball

Ibrahim Sangare smiles after qualifying for the Champions League group stage.

Nottingham Forest lead Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in the pursuit of PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare, according to reports.

All three clubs are on the lookout for a new midfielder this summer with Liverpool linked with numerous names, including Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat and Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch.

James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all left on free transfers at the end of June, while Jordan Henderson and Fabinho departed Anfield for Saudi Arabia.

Liverpool have brought in Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo so far this summer and are looking for one more midfielder.

It is widely expected to be Gravenberch who comes in as their final midfield signing but Eindhovens Dagblad (via Football Transfers) are claiming Liverpool and PSG have been ‘left behind’ by Nottingham Forest in the race for PSV’s Sangare.

Sangare has ‘likely played his final game’ for PSV after their 5-1 victory over Rangers in the Champions League on Wednesday, which put the Dutch side through to the group stages.

Sangare has a €37.5m release clause in his contract with Nottingham Forest making a €35m offer for the Ivory Coast international but it is likely that ‘more clubs will arrive with offers in the final days of the transfer window’.

With Forest now ‘approaching the escape clause’ there’s a ‘good chance’ that Liverpool and PSG get ‘left behind’ by the east Midland side.

Sangare is ‘still thinking about’ whether a move to Forest would actually be a ‘step forward’ in his career with PSV now in the Champions League group stages.

Brennan Johnson is one player who could be heading out of the City Ground this summer with the Daily Mail claiming that Brentford have ‘resurrected talks’ with Forest over a potential move.

Nottingham Forest have already rejected a £43m bid for Johnson from the London-based outfit but after ‘initially appearing to pull out of the race’ it appears that the Bees are still keen to seal a deal.

Tottenham are ‘also interested’ in the Wales international with Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou ‘a big fan of the Forest star’s capability to play in numerous positions’.

Callum Hudson-Odoi is set to join Forest from Chelsea and Steve Cooper’s side would have plenty of forward options if Johnson did leave the City Ground.

Fabrizio Romano wrote in his Caught Offside column: “Nottingham Forest are now closing in on the Callum Hudson-Odoi deal. Negotiations moving to final stages with Chelsea. Talks underway, details to be clarified today but CHO could join Forest soon.”