Nottingham Forest Opinion: Sada Thioub can propel Forest to the playoffs next season
According to reports from the Nottingham Post, Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Senegalese international attacker Sada Thioub from French club Nimes in the summer.
The Nottingham Post understands that the 23-year-old has been on Forest’s radar since January and they are expected to go back in the market for the attacker in the summer.
Thioub, who currently plies his trade in Ligue 1 with Nimes, has caught the eye of Forest’s scouts in France with some impressive displays and Martin O’Neill’s side are set to make a move for him in the upcoming transfer window.
The 23-year-old has registered 3 goals and 4 assists from 35 appearances in the French top flight this season and has established himself as a regular for Nimes, who currently sit 8th in the Lige 1 standings.
Thioub played a key role in Nimes’ promotion-winning campaign in Ligue 2 last season, contributing with 4 goals and 4 assists, and has continued his impressive form in the top-flight as well.
Born in Nanterre, France, to parents of Senegalese origin, Thioub rose through the youth ranks at Caen and Nice, making a couple of substitute Ligue 1 appearances for the latter before being deemed surplus to the demands.
He joined Guingamp in 2015 and spent time on loan at Bastia in the third tier before switching boats to join Nimes in Ligue 2 in the summer of 2016. He seems to have finally settled down at Nimes and has accumulated 12 goals and 10 assists from 100 appearances in all competitions for the French outfit.
To put things into perspective, Nottingham Forest have every reason to look at Sada Thioub as someone who can bolster their rather ordinary-looking forward line. The 2-cap Senegalese international doesn’t boast of an impressive strike rate but he has strived in the French top flight, and at 23, there is still plenty of time left for him to make significant improvements to his game.
Forest enjoyed a pretty decent run in the Championship this season but that wasn’t enough for them to make it to the promotion playoffs, as Martin O’Neill’s side finished 9th in the standings, 8 points adrift of Derby County for the final playoff spot.
However, the fans at the City Ground have every reason to be happy with their team’s progress this time around after finishing 17th last season.
Joe Lolley has arguably been their most influential player this season, with the former Huddersfield Town ace contributing with 11 goals and 11 assists. Forest, however, might have to brace themselves for offers for Lolley from some of the Premier League clubs in the summer given his prolific run of form.
Lewis Grabban has also been a key contributor with 16 goals, while record-signing Joao Carvalho and Irish veteran Daryl Murphy have been other notable contributors in the attack.
However, Forest need more pace and power in their attack if they are really serious about challenging for promotion next season. And Sada Thioub would be an ideal option for that purpose.
The versatile 23-year-old can play out wide on either side of the attack as a winger or a wide forward and he has also shown the ability to lead the line as a centre-forward, which should make him an exciting prospect for Forest.
Known in France for his blistering pace, raw power and wonderful dribbling skills, Thioub used his strength and acceleration to run at defenders, often taking them out with his sheer drive and determination. Capable of whipping dangerous balls across the face of goal from the wide areas, Thioub is also a good passer and has the tendency to come up with slick passes to create chances in the final third.
An aggressive player by nature, the Senegalese ace always plays with a positive body language and he never shies away from having a crack on goal from distance.
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City need more firepower in their attack to make a return to the top-flight and Sada Thioub has all the qualities to make a big impression at the City Ground next season. That said, they should go all out in their pursuit of the 23-year-old Ligue 1 powerhouse this summer.
