When looking at the players Nottingham Forest are being linked with this summer, Martin O’Neill appears to be on the hunt for at least one winger. The Reds are reportedly targeting Kamil Grosicki of Hull City and Gavin Whyte of Oxford United, but there could be a Premier League player available who would improve the side – Bakary Sako.
The 31-year-old is on his way out of Crystal Palace this summer and will be available on a free transfer. After being released by West Bromwich Albion in January, Sako re-joined the Eagles for the remainder of the season. He made 10 appearances in his second stint at Palace, contributing one goal, but didn’t do enough to earn a permanent stay at Selhurst Park.
Forest should consider a move for the £55k-per-week winger as they need a number of wide players to bring creativity in the side. The Reds have Ben Osborn and Matty Cash, but the two players have struggled for goals and assists. Osborn scored just once in 2019 and made two assists. Cash has also scored only one goal since the turn of the year and made one assist.
Sako would be an improvement on Forest’s current attacking options, but his lofty wages may be a stumbling block.
Crippy Cooke’s previous article
Opinion: Left-winger has uncertain future at Nottingham Forest
