Despite Sabri Lamouchi having Michael Dawson, Tobias Figueiredo, Joe Worrall, Yohan Benalouane, Alexander Milosevic, Michael Hefele and Jack Robinson at centre-back, Nottingham Forest are being linked with Ben Gibson and Scott McKenna.
The Reds are overstocked in defence and could sell one or two existing players, but it appears Lamouchi is seeking balance in his backline due to the majority of his centre-backs being right-footed. Forest’s only left-footed central defender is likely to be used at left-back too.
Paul Taylor of Nottinghamshire Live said on Twitter: “Forest have a host of central defenders already, many of whom are more than decent. But only Jack Robinson is left footed, and he is also the best left back, hence interest in adding another left-sided centre-half.”
Forest signed Yuri Ribeiro to compete at left-back this season which could free up Robinson to play in a central role as he did under Martin O’Neill. If Robinson is Forest’s first-choice at left-back, however, Lamouchi’s interest in Gibson & McKenna makes a lot of sense.
Nevertheless, the Reds manager will have to trim the squad as seven players are fighting for only two or three places in the first-team. Lamouchi wants Hefele out of the club and Benalouane could follow him, but time will tell if Forest are successful replacing the pair for a left-footer.
