Offer claimed to be on table for midfielder Orel
NOTTINGHAM Forest are said to have made an initial offer for VFB Stuttgart midfielder Orel Mangala.
The Reds are looking to bolster their options in the centre of the pitch as they prepare for the Premier League season. But they are not the only ones apparently keen on the 24-year-old.
German newspaper Die Welt claim Forest have made a bid for Mangala – with Stuttgarter Zeitung reporting the offer has been rejected. Crystal Palace and West Ham United are also credited with an interest in the player.
A 15m-euro (about £12.7m) price tag has been mooted for the Belgian, who has two years left to run on his current contract. He was not involved in a friendly against Brentford at the weekend, with boss Pellegrino Matarazzo said to have been “already testing in the event that Mangala leaves VFB this summer”.
Mangala signed for Stuttgart in 2017, having been with Anderlecht and Borussia Dortmund during his younger years. He had a loan spell at Hamburg in the 2018-19 campaign, before returning to his parent club and going on to rack up more than 100 league appearances.
Last season he featured 28 times in the Bundesliga. He has also represented his country at various age group levels, including with the senior side.
The Reds have made seven signings so far this summer. Teenage attacking midfielder Brandon Aguilera became the eighth when he put pen to paper on a four-year deal on Sunday but he has immediately returned to Costa Rica for a loan spell with Guanacasteca.
Strengthening in midfield is a priority for boss Steve Cooper. A deal for Huddersfield Town’s Lewis O’brien is understood to be close, with Terriers left-back Harry Toffolo also set to make the move to the City Ground.
Meanwhile, Forest transfer “target” Aster Vranckx does “not care” about reports linking him with a move to the Premier League.
The Belgian teenager, currently plying his trade with Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, has been linked with moves to both Forest and Everton in recent days.
Vranckx has been quizzed about reports linking him to Forest and did not hold back in saying what he thinks about the recent transfer speculation.
“I don’t care about these Premier League rumours,” he said. “It’s my agent who takes care of it.”
He also reiterated his commitment to Wolfsburg while outlining his hopes for the future.
“I hope to become and stay as a starter (in Wolfsburg’s XI),” he said.