Nottingham Forest defender Jonathan Panzo has joined Coventry City on a season-long loan deal for the 2022/23 campaign.
The youngster signed for Forest in January from Dijon in France. He made just one appearance for the Reds and is now heading back to the Championship.
Panzo was almost certainly signed with one eye on the future, although Steve Cooper is a huge fan of the central defender.
The talented enforcer was part of Cooper’s England youth team that won the World Cup in 2017 and he’s linked up with him again.
Panzo was in the Chelsea youth academy as a kid before joining Monaco in 2018. He had a loan spell with Cercle Brugge before signing for Dijon in 2020.
There he made 26 senior appearances before heading back to England to bolster Forest’s defensive options.
Following promotion, the Reds have been busy bolstering their squad for the Premier League.
Moussa Niakhate has been added to the ranks and as a left-sided option, Panzo has been forced down the pecking order.
Now, he will spend a season playing regularly in the Championship and naturally that should put him in good stead for the future.
Forest defender Panzo joins Coventry and he could be perfect for them
This could be an ideal move for all parties; Panzo gets regular action, Coventry get a talented youngster and Forest have sent their player to a team that plays the right way.
Mark Robins had the Sky Blues flirting with the play-offs last season. Given a lack of any real budget that proved quite remarkable.
Coventry were tipped by many for relegation but a return to their home ground saw them defy the odds throughout 2021/22.
Crucially, Robins plays with a three-man central defensive unit and that could make this move perfect for Forest.
The 21-year-old should get plenty of chances to play in the left-sided role and Forest could seriously benefit from that aspect.
Panzo looks like being one for the future on Trentside. He will hope to prove himself to Cooper with a strong campaign at Coventry.