Forest make verbal offer to sign 24-year-old who wins more duels than Sangare

Nottingham Forest have made a verbal offer to sign Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana.

David Ornstein confirmed that the Reds’ bid totals €35 million plus add-ons with the bid matching the French side’s valuation for the France international.

Steve Cooper’s side are trying to convince the 24-year-old to join the club, with Fofana already rejecting Forest once this window.

The Reds are not alone in the hunt for the talented midfielder, with fellow Premier League side West Ham United also registering interest in the Monaco man.

Forest in talks with French international Fofana

It is safe to say the signing of French international Fofana would be one hell of a coup.

The 24-year-old featured 36 times in Ligue 1 last season, scoring twice from holding midfield.

Fofana is a player who loves to win possession back, before allowing the attacking players ahead of him to cause the opposition problems.

In the league last season, he won 167 ground duels, 39 more than fellow Reds target Ibrahim Sangare.

The Frenchman knows to be in the right place at the right time, demonstrated by his tally of 56 interceptions, 34 more than Sangare, a huge jump.

Fofana completed 1717 passes in his 36 games last season, working out at an average of 48 per90.

Monaco’s midfielder oozes class in and out of possession, and although the fee may seem hefty, the Reds would be getting an elite-level midfielder.