OPINION
Nottingham Forest are reportedly in the hunt to sign free agent Bakary Sako – and Aitor Karanka could play an absolute blinder if he is able to lure the former Crystal Palace and Wolves winger to the City Ground.
According to Nottingham Post journalist Paul Taylor via his personal Twitter account on Monday, Forest are interested in signing Sako, 30, as the Mali international continues his search for a new club after leaving Selhurst Park at the end of last season.
And to answer a question that was asked a lot over the weekend, yes, there is interest in Sako from #nffc – will be interesting to see if that ends with another signing…
— Paul Taylor (@nottmtails) September 10, 2018
Sako has had his injury woes over the last few years and struggled for a spot in Roy Hodson’s first team plans last season due to the number of wingers on the books at Palace.
However he still managed to score three goals while making just four Premier League starts and would without doubt add plenty of pace and power to the Forest attack if Karanka is able to wrap up his hunt for the free agent.
It would certainly take some effort to sign the ex-Wolves winger though.
TeamTalk reported over the weekend that Championship heavyweights Aston Villa and Middlesbrough are interested in the speed demon, who almost re-signed for Crystal Palace late in the summer transfer window before a return to the London club fell through.
If Sako is good enough for second-placed Boro and a club with the prestige of Aston Villa, he is without doubt going to be good enough for Forest – and his Championship record also proves this.
In his 78 second-tier appearances with Wolves before he signed for Palace, Sako scored 24 goals and supplied 21 assists.
If Karanka gets the chance to sign a jet-heeled attacker who is involved in well over one goal in every other game, he has to take that opportunity and attempt to beat the ever-growing list of clubs interested in the player.
Sako is one of them players who could seriously turn this Forest side into genuine promotion contenders and the Reds simply must get this deal done and dusted as soon as possible.