Steve Hodge has delivered his verdict on who he believes has been the biggest Nottingham Forest disappointment during 2023/24.
The Reds managed to stave off the threat of relegation in the end, with the three promoted teams all making a swift return to the EFL.
Forest will now embark on a third straight season in the Premier League – despite receiving a four-point deduction during the campaign.
The Reds will endure a busy summer transfer window and this time around they will be fighting to keep their top stars from the clutches of other clubs.
Now, in the aftermath of the campaign finishing Hodge has singled out one player who has really disappointed him from a Forest perspective.
What Steve Hodge has said about Ibrahim Sangare
This won’t come as too much of a surprise that it’s Forest record-signing Sangare who is in the firing line.
He checked in on deadline day last summer after the club had managed to ship Brennan Johnson off to Tottenham.
With Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi signing to ease the departure of Johnson, Forest used the money to sign a genuine defensive midfielder.
However, it’s been a frustrating season for the Ivorian and now, Hodge has taken aim at the £30 million signing from PSV.
He told the Shut up and Show More Football podcast: “The biggest let down this year has been (Ibrahim) Sangare by a country mile.
“From what we expected from when we got him we thought he’d dominate midfield and be a bullish player who would knock people out of the way and control games.
“That’s just not happened – on him it’s a big decision for the football club because he cost a lot of money and at the moment it is not proving to be worthwhile.
“He has a long contract so do you give him longer time to establish himself in the Premier League and see if he can compete better?
“His adaptation this year has not been great in a really tough league. He was a top player in Holland but in the Premier League he’s not been seen as a top player.”
Sangare can still come good for Forest
The 25-year-old is not the first – nor will he be the last – to struggle after signing from an inferior league such as the Eredivisie.
Even Cody Gakpo at Liverpool is still finding his feet and he plays for one of the league’s top outfits.
Sangare can still come good for Forest and the challenge for Nuno Espirito Santo is pretty clear.
He will have to find a way to get Sangare into his system and utilise him in a way where he can simply play to his strengths.
That said, Hodge is right to call this a big decision for Forest.
With financial fair play still loitering in the background, Sangare might be one of the players that Forest feel they could make a quick buck on this summer.
It will be fascinating to see how this one plays out during the transfer window…
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