According to Soccer Link (h/t GFFN), Nottingham Forest have ‘accelerated talks’ to sign Brice Samba and are confident of procuring his signature. The 25-year-old has spent the last two years at SM Caen after joining on a free transfer from Olympique Marseille, but he could be on the move this summer.
If Forest complete a deal for Samba, he could be the fifth goalkeeper in the first-team squad after Arijanet Muric, Costel Pantilimon, Luke Steele, Jordan Smith. Sabri Lamouchi is likely to offload at least one or two names, but it’s nevertheless a strong move to sign the shot-stopper given Muric is expected to be first-choice in 2019/20.
The Reds boss has only a week remaining to complete all his transfer business and appears to be targeting an area that Forest weren’t deficient in. Muric and Pantilimon are more than good enough for the Championship, but Samba’s arrival could mean another existing player needs to be sold.
That’s not to say the 25-year-old wouldn’t improve the squad, however. Samba has made 43 Ligue 1 appearances, keeping 13 clean sheets, so he would bring some top-level experience to the squad. It’s just an odd move to make with two established goalkeepers at the club.