{"id":258374,"date":"2026-08-17T19:36:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T19:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/17\/nottingham-forest-enter-race-to-sign\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T19:36:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T19:36:14","slug":"nottingham-forest-enter-race-to-sign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/17\/nottingham-forest-enter-race-to-sign\/","title":{"rendered":"Nottingham Forest enter race to sign"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Nottingham Forest<\/a> have now entered contention to sign Werder Bremen defender Karim Coulibaly.<\/p>\n

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Earlier in the transfer window, Coulibaly<\/a> was named as Chelsea’s prime target<\/a>, while Forest have already improved their backline this summer, signing Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP.<\/p>\n

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Is Ousmane Diomande or Karim Coulibaly a better signing for Nottingham Forest?<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

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Ousmane Diomande<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

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Diomande is yet to prove himself in one of Europe’s major leagues, so it remains to be seen how he will perform in England, but he has 132 games to his name for Sporting at just 22-years-old, with 18 of those coming in the Champions League. During the Ruben Amorim era, the Ivorian became accustomed with playing in a three-at-the-back system, which could make him ideal for Oliver Glasner<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Karim Coulibaly<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

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Coulibaly, on the other hand, is tried and tested in the Bundesliga, but is yet to prove himself in the Champions League. However, while Bremen primarily used a 4-2-3-1 formation last season, they did opt for three centre-backs on occasion, which means he could be a good fit. Moreover, at just 19-years-old, he could be an exciting long-term addition to Glasner’s squad.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

As such, there are doubts about whether Glasner needs to strengthen his defence further, considering he also has the likes of Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic, Jair Cunha and Morato to choose from.<\/p>\n

Much like Diomande, the Werder Bremen defender is still young, but he is already an important player for the German side, featuring 27 times in the Bundesliga last season.<\/p>\n

The teenager averaged 4.5 clearances per 90 during that time, while also completing 52.8 accurate passes per 90. For reference, only Elliot Anderson averaged more accurate passes in the Premier League<\/a> in the 2025-26 campaign (55.0).<\/p>\n

Analyst Spencer Mossman <\/a>has also praised the youngster’s ability in possession, saying: “He’s pretty accurate; sometimes long balls are overhit and ones on his right tend to float, but generally diagonals look solid; long passes on the ground to players calling for ball to feet are lasers; has the ability to pick out the right pass, not just the easiest option, I am far from a biomechanics expert but his passing motion looks silky; much more of a glider than a powerful carrier.”<\/em><\/p>\n

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\n Nottingham Forest join the race to sign Karim Coulibaly<\/strong>
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\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Matthew Childs<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

According to Sky Sports journalist Luca Bendoni, Nottingham Forest are one of a number of European clubs eyeing Coulibaly<\/a>, with Sporting CP also among his potential suitors.<\/p>\n

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However, the Tricky Trees may need to move quickly if they are going to lure the centre-back to the City Ground, as Ligue 1 outfit RSC Strasbourg have now submitted two bids.<\/p>\n