Unai Emery’s Intervention Scuppered Nottingham Forest’s £4m Move for Lamare Bogarde
Nottingham Forest’s summer transfer window was marked by a series of shrewd acquisitions, but one deal that slipped through their fingers was the £4m signing of Lamare Bogarde from Aston Villa. According to Voetbal Primeur journalist Dennie van Laar, Forest had agreed a fee with Villa, but the move was ultimately vetoed by Unai Emery, who wanted to keep the 20-year-old defender at Villa Park.
“Bogarde was given his chance and Villa did not lose a single time in all the matches,” van Laar said on the Done Deal podcast. “Emery has proven to be a man of his word. I would field him more often.” Van Laar’s comments provide insight into Emery’s thought process, and highlight the Villa manager’s commitment to giving young players a chance.
Forest’s interest in Bogarde was well-documented, and the player himself was reportedly keen on the move. However, Emery’s intervention proved decisive, and Bogarde has since gone on to feature six times for Villa this season. The Dutch defender’s progress will undoubtedly be monitored by Forest, who will be keen to see how he develops in the coming months.
The failed move for Bogarde is a reminder of the challenges Forest face in the transfer market. The Reds are competing with bigger clubs for top talent, and often find themselves at the mercy of other teams’ managers. In this case, Emery’s decision to keep Bogarde at Villa Park proved pivotal, and Forest were left to look elsewhere for reinforcements.
Despite the setback, Forest’s recruitment strategy remains focused on signing young, talented players with a high ceiling. The Reds have already shown a willingness to invest in promising youngsters, and it’s likely that they will continue to target players in this mold in the future.
As for Bogarde, he will be hoping to continue his progress at Villa, and establish himself as a regular member of Emery’s starting XI. The Dutch defender has already shown glimpses of his potential, and it will be fascinating to see how he develops in the coming months.
Forest’s manager, Steve Cooper, will be keeping a close eye on Bogarde’s progress, and may even revisit the possibility of signing him in the future. However, for now, the Reds must focus on their own squad, and look to strengthen their options in the January transfer window.
The January transfer window is always a challenging time for clubs to do business, but Forest will be hoping to make some key signings to help them push up the table. With the Reds currently sitting in mid-table, a strong January transfer window could be the key to unlocking their full potential.
As the transfer speculation continues to build, Forest fans will be eagerly awaiting news of any potential signings. The Reds have already shown a willingness to invest in their squad, and it’s likely that they will continue to do so in the coming months.
