Steve Hodge has given his assessment on who he believes has been Nottingham Forest’s biggest letdown in 2023/24.
The Reds eventually avoided relegation, with all three promoted teams returning to the EFL.
Forest will now compete in the Premier League for the third consecutive season, despite a four-point deduction throughout the campaign.
The Reds will have a busy summer transfer window, and this time they will be striving to keep their finest players out of the hands of rival clubs.
Now, in the aftermath of the campaign’s conclusion, Hodge has singled out one player who has greatly disappointed him from a Forest perspective.
What Steve Hodge Has Said About Ibrahim Sangare
It’s not surprising that Forest’s record-breaking signing, Sangare, is under fire.
He checked in on deadline day last summer, after the club had successfully shipped Brennan Johnson to Tottenham.
With Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi joining to ease Johnson’s departure, Forest used the funds to purchase a quality defensive midfielder.
However, it has been a tough season for the Ivorian, and Hodge has now targeted the £30 million signing from PSV.
He told the Shut Up and Show More Football program that (Ibrahim) Sangare has been the biggest disappointment this year by a long shot.
“When we signed him, we anticipated him to dominate midfield and be a bullish guy who would push people aside and control games.
“That hasn’t happened – signing him is a significant choice for the football club since he cost a lot of money and isn’t paying off right now.
“He has a long contract; do you give him more time to establish himself in the Premier League and see if he can compete more effectively?
“His adaptation this year has been poor in a very difficult league. He was a top player in Holland, but he is not considered a top player in the Premier League.
Sangare can yet come through for Forest.
The 25-year-old is not the first – nor will he be the last – to struggle after joining from a lower-tier club like the Eredivisie.
Even Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo is still finding his feet, despite playing for one of the league’s top teams.
Sangare has the potential to help Forest, and Nuno Espirito Santo has a clear task.
He will need to find a way to incorporate Sangare into his system and use him in a way that allows him to simply play to his strengths.
That being said, Hodge is correct in describing this as a major decision for Forest.
With financial fair play still looming in the background, Sangare might be one of the players Forest believes they can cash in on this summer.
It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out during the transfer window.
