£50m Nottingham Forest Midfielder Eyed by Manchester United

Manchester United’s pursuit of Champions League qualification has taken a fresh twist off the pitch, with Ibrahim Sangaré emerging as a leading midfield target for the summer window. The 28-year-old Nottingham Forest enforcer, valued by his club at between €45 million and €50 million, has been placed on the shortlist drawn up by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS recruitment team as they prepare for life after Casemiro.

Sources have confirmed that United scouts have been tracking Sangaré for several months, noting his “physical strength and tactical awareness” in the heart of the Forest engine room. The Ivorian’s duel dominance and composure under pressure have reportedly impressed Carrick’s back-room staff, who believe the rangy midfielder could provide the platform for Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko to continue their recent upward trajectory.

Sangaré, signed from PSV Eindhoven in 2023, is under contract at the City Ground until 2028 and is considered one of manager Nuno Espírito Santo’s most influential players, alongside Elliot Anderson and Murillo. Forest are understood to be determined to secure a profit on the initial outlay that brought the 28-year-old to the East Midlands, a stance strengthened by interest from Aston Villa and West Ham United.

United had initially explored a move for Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, but Real Madrid’s entry into that race has accelerated the shift toward Sangaré. With Casemiro’s departure already confirmed for the end of the 2025-26 campaign, Carrick and Ratcliffe are keen to avoid a repeat of the midfield void that hampered the final months of Ruben Amorim’s tenure.

CaughtOffside reports that initial soundings have been made, although no formal bid has been tabled. The presence of domestic rivals Villa and West Ham, both of whom are expected to be in the market for top-six reinforcements, could yet drive Sangaré’s price toward the upper end of Forest’s valuation.

For now, United’s hierarchy will continue to monitor the midfielder’s performances as they balance the immediate priority of securing a top-three finish with long-term squad planning. Should Sangaré maintain the form that has made him one of the Premier League’s most consistent ball-winners, a summer auction for his signature appears inevitable.