Nottingham Forest
Exclusive: West Ham & Nottingham Forest were in advanced talks over 21-yr-old signing
Premier League duo West Ham and Nottingham Forest made deadline-day swoops for Le Havre defender Arouna Sangante, sources have told Football Insider.
Both sides explored potential loan moves for the highly-rated 21-year-old centre-back on the final day of the mid-season window.
Forest could not fund a deal after failing to sell any of their first-team stars, while the Irons were also looking to raise funds with sales of their own.
However, West Ham were at one stage in advanced talks to agree a deal before negotiations collapsed.
Sangante is Le Havre’s captain and signed a new contract with the French side just last year (2023).
That deal runs until June 2026.
He is one of the hottest properties in French football and is being tracked by Europe’s elite sides after catching the eye at Le Havre since his senior breakthrough.
The Senegalese star has made 17 appearances across all competitions this season.
Sangante primarily plays at centre-back but can also star at right-back.
The 21-year-old came through the youth ranks with Le Havre and helped them achieve promotion from Ligue 2 last term.
West Ham sit sixth in the Premier League table after drawing 1-1 against Bournemouth on Thursday (1 February).
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest are 16th and completed three deadline-day signings despite being charged with breaking Financial Fair Play rules earlier this month.
In other news, Liverpool now set sights on West Ham man.
