Nottingham Forest are keen on signing Peterborough United forward Siriki Dembele during the January transfer window.
According to The Guardian, Forest will rival Crystal Palace, Rangers and Fulham for the player who Posh owner Darragh MacAnthony compared to Wilfried Zaha (Hard Truth Podcast).
Dembele has played 19 times for Peterborough this season, scoring five goals and claiming five assists.
Darren Ferguson’s team are fifth in League One and they won’t want to lose him during the January window.
MacAnthony has previously said the winger is valued at £15 million, although it remains to be seen whether that stance has changed.
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With the pandemic causing chaos financially in the lower leagues, Peterborough may well have to change tact on that one.
The forward would bring an element of versatility to the Forest ranks.
This season he has played predominantly through the middle but can operate on either flank.
The right-footed player arrived at Peterborough in 2018 from Grimsby Town having been previously picked up from the Nike Academy.
Where would Dembele slot in at Forest?
Well, his versatility and potential are two attributes that would make his arrival very interesting indeed.
Both of Forest’s senior strikers are over 30 and it’s fair to say that in the next couple of transfer windows, the Reds will need another talisman.
At £15 million Forest won’t have a prayer of signing the 25-year-old but it seems likely that Peterborough are being ambitious with that valuation.
Chris Hughton is blessed with plenty of left-footed options among his attacking options and Dembele would definitely add some balance.
The signing of the youngster would probably delight the club’s supporters too.
It would represent a change in strategy from the Reds who have targeted experience in the past.
Dembele would be a signing for the future with a vast sell-on value and a player who could enjoy his very best years at the City Ground.
Forest are wise to be interested in the League One star.