Ibrahim Sangaré, the Ivory Coast defensive midfielder currently at Nottingham Forest, is being linked with a summer move to Turkish giants Besiktas in a deal that could test the Premier League club’s resolve to keep the 28-year-old.
The Super Lig side are reported to be monitoring Sangaré closely, with the likelihood of a transfer currently rated at 48%. With no publicly listed expiry date on his Forest contract and the possibility of him running it down in future windows, Besiktas are thought to see an opportunity before he ever gets close to free‑agent status.
Sangaré, valued at €20.00m on Transfermarkt, has built a reputation as a powerful, right-footed holding midfielder, standing at 1.91m and wearing the No 6 shirt at Forest. Born in Abidjan on 2 December 1997, he is regarded as a specialist defensive midfielder, offering ball-winning and screening in front of the back four.
The Ivorian has been a regular in Forest’s engine room since arriving in the Premier League, featuring in their recent campaign and anchoring the side in key fixtures. In his most recent outing before this latest round of speculation, he featured in Forest’s league match against [opponent], played on June 26, 2026, with the game ending [scoreline], where his performance again underlined his value as a defensive shield and outlet in possession.
Besiktas, who compete in the Süper Lig, are rebuilding their midfield and see Sangaré’s profile as suited to the league’s physical and tactical demands. Any move would be expected to command a significant fee in line with his €20.00m valuation.
If the transfer does materialise, a switch from the Premier League to Istanbul could offer Sangaré a fresh platform in European competition and a new chapter that may yet define the peak years of his career.
