Juventus consider Forest midfielder during ongoing Douglas Luiz transfer negotiations

Douglas Luiz is on the verge of completing a move to Nottingham Forest. Negotiations between the English club and Juventus have accelerated in recent days, and a full agreement now appears to be within reach.

What initially started as a transfer discussion for one player could soon evolve into a broader deal between the two clubs. Another name has now entered the conversation: Ibrahim Sangaré.

Intermediaries have been working on the Douglas Luiz deal for several days, and confidence is growing that a deal will be finalized soon.

Nottingham Forest is prepared to meet the Brazilian midfielder’s personal demands, and Luiz himself is eager to return to the Premier League — a league where he previously impressed during his time at Aston Villa.

Following a disappointing season in Serie A, Luiz is no longer considered a key part of Juventus’s plans.

Despite arriving with high expectations, the 26-year-old failed to make an impact and was quickly placed on the club’s list of players available for transfer.

Douglas Luiz of Juventus during the Serie A match between Napoli and Juventus at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 25, 2025 in Naples, Italy.

Although he missed the first few days of preseason without authorization, Juventus management ultimately forgave the absence and is now awaiting a formal offer from the player’s representatives.

The proposed move is expected to be structured as a loan with an option to buy, which would automatically become an obligation if certain performance-based conditions are met.

Juventus’s primary objective is to remove Luiz’s salary from the books, which is considered excessive given his limited contribution on the pitch.

This is actually the second attempt this summer at reaching a transfer agreement between Juventus and Nottingham Forest.

A previous deal had nearly been completed, but fell apart when Samuel Mbangula and Timothy Weah both refused to move to England.

Unconvinced by Forest’s technical project, both players opted to remain in Turin, effectively halting a potential multi-player exchange.

Now, Juventus and Nottingham Forest could reopen discussions — this time centered around Ibrahim Sangaré.

Ibrahim Sangare of PSV celebrates 0-2 during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Excelsior v PSV at the Van Donge & De Roo Stadium on August 28, 2022…

With Luiz arriving, the 27-year-old Ivorian midfielder may become surplus to requirements at Forest, presenting a potential opportunity for Juventus to sign him at a reduced cost.

Standing at 1.90 meters (6’3″), Sangaré is a physically strong midfielder with solid technical ability — attributes Juventus coach Igor Tudor is reportedly eager to add to his midfield options.

The current squad lacks a holding midfielder with Sangaré’s profile, and his underwhelming season in the Premier League could allow Juve to negotiate a favorable deal.

Although Sangaré struggled to meet expectations in England, he remains a player with upside and could benefit from a fresh start in Serie A.

For Juventus, he represents a low-risk move that could improve the team’s physicality and balance in central midfield.

The Douglas Luiz transfer could prove to be a turning point in Juventus’s summer window. Offloading an underperforming player may not only relieve financial pressure but also create space for a more suitable addition.

Juventus is carefully managing its resources, aiming to lower its wage bill and move on from unwanted players, while reinforcing key areas with strategic signings aligned with Tudor’s tactical vision.

Nottingham Forest, on the other hand, is betting on Luiz’s Premier League experience and creativity to strengthen their midfield, with the aim of improving last season’s performance and securing a more stable position in the English top flight.