Goalkeeper Brice Samba is said to be a transfer priority for Lens amid uncertainty over his Nottingham Forest future.
The shot-stopper has 12 months left to run on the four-year deal he signed when he joined the Reds from Caen in 2019. But reports suggest he has told the club he intends to leave this summer, having deemed the terms of a fresh contract “unacceptable”.
If the situation doesn’t get resolved, it seems Lens would be ready to take advantage. Former Angers SCO head of communications Mohamed Toubache-Ter, as quoted by Get French Football News, says the French outfit have been following the Forest keeper for a number of months.
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Samba’s former goalkeeping coach at Caen, Herve Sekli, is said to be due to link up with Lens this summer. And the club are also searching for a replacement for No 1 Wuilker Farinez, who has suffered an ACL injury while on international duty.
A firm fans’ favourite, Samba has been a key figure during his time at the City Ground. He was integral to the Reds’ promotion success during the season just gone, clinching their place at Wembley with his penalty shootout heroics against Sheffield United.
The Athletic claim the 28-year-old’s decision to reject Forest’s contract offer is “about respect for his achievements, importance and popularity at the City Ground”. Talks are said to be still taking place and the Reds are “determined” to hang on to their first-choice custodian.
However, if a resolution is not found, Forest face a call over whether to sell one of their star men this transfer window or risk losing him for nothing in a year's time. It comes as they are preparing for a return to the Premier League after a 23-year absence.
Samba has made 133 appearances in the Garibaldi, including 45 in 2021/22. Steve Cooper's side also have Ethan Horvath and academy graduate Jordan Smith on the books, and they have been linked with Burnley's Nick Pope.
