Nottingham Forest target Siriki Dembele has handed a transfer request in at Peterborough United, according to local reports.
The Reds were linked with a move for the forward just before Christmas, along with Rangers and Celtic (Guardian).
Owner Darragh MacAnthony has confirmed, however, that the 24-year-old won’t be heading anywhere unless a considerable fee was received.
Dembele has scored five goals and registered five assists this season, with Posh currently sat fifth in League One.
He has spent the campaign playing as a striker but is also capable of operating on either flank.
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He checked in at London Road from Grimsby Town in 2018 having been plucked from the Nike Academy.
Dembele is lightening quick, can play in a number of positions and looks like being the type of player to have an impact at the next level.
The January window is notoriously tough to do business and spending the sort of numbers Peterborough want for Dembele could be hard for Forest.
The Reds are currently unbeaten in five but still languish close to the relegation zone in the Championship.
A couple of sound additions could help them edge further up the table and Dembele would represent a good signing.
The player’s desire to leave could be telling and it remains to be seen if Forest can do a deal this month.
Would Dembele be a Forest hit?
He could most certainly become a fan favourite at the City Ground should he choose to sign for Forest.
The lively frontman never gives defenders a moment of peace and and boasts an abundance of creativity.
Forest have Lewis Grabban and Lyle Taylor in attack but in the next couple of transfer windows a younger model will be sought.
Dembele could be ideal in that sense and at 24 he could become the spearhead to Forest’s attack for many years to come.
A move this month does perhaps seem unlikely.
If Dembele was to be the only signing this month, however, not too many Forest fans would find that a problem.