Rangers have asked about signing Nottingham Forest defender Jonathan Panzo but clubs from England and Germany are keen. The Reds centre-back looks likely to leave the City Ground this summer after just one appearance for the club.
Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on the future of Panzo. He’s claimed that although Rangers are probably leading the chase, they will face competition from other clubs.
Panzo signed for the Reds from Dijon in January 2022. He was signed with one eye on the future and the fact that Forest won promotion didn’t help his case for regular action with Forest.
As a result, he was loaned out last season to Coventry City in the Championship. There, he made 32 appearances and helped the Sky Blues reach the play-off final before they were beaten by Luton Town.
Forest gem Panzo was deployed as a left-sided central defender as part of a back three. He did pick up an injury just after Christmas and he had to experience a spell as a backup option under Mark Robins.
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Had Forest been relegated from the Premier League, the 22-year-old might have proved a decent option. However, with the Reds remaining in the top flight his chances of regular game time look slim.
Rangers asked about Forest gem Panzo but interest from England and Germany throws a spanner in the works
This is an interesting one and it would seem that Panzo has some decisions to make. Rangers hold the most interest but playing in the Championship or in Germany will likely turn his head too.
The beauty of him joining the Glaswegian giants would be that he’d immediately get the chance to play in the Champions League. At his age, that’s not to be sniffed at and gives the Gers significant clout.
Panzo might feel that he has more to offer in the Championship, however, if he leaves Forest. If he joins an ambitious second-tier outfit he could view that as a pathway to eventually play Premier League football.
The fee mooted over the weekend was around £2.5 million. If Forest can recoup that fee for a player who cost very little, it would represent a sound piece of business by the club.