Kevin Carlos: Cagliari eye move for Nice and former Basel striker

Kevin Carlos, the Spain- and Nigeria-eligible centre-forward currently at Nice, is the subject of interest from Serie A side Cagliari as the Italian club explore options to strengthen their attack. The 25-year-old, under contract with the Ligue 1 team until 30 June 2030, has been linked with a potential move less than a year after arriving on the French Riviera.

Cagliari’s interest comes with Carlos valued at around €4m, a figure shaped by his rapid rise over the last two seasons. Nice paid a reported €6m to sign him from Basel on 18 August 2025 after an impressive spell in Switzerland, where he helped the club win both the league title and the domestic cup in the 2024-25 campaign.

Born in Ceuta and standing at 1.86m, Carlos has built a reputation as a centre-forward capable of contributing in domestic and European competition. During his time in Switzerland he made 74 league appearances, scoring 28 goals, and added two more strikes in eight Europa League outings as Basel pushed deep into continental competition.

His first year in France has been more of an adaptation phase, with 23 Ligue 1 appearances and a single assist for Nice, while he also featured in their run to the French cup final in 2025-26, ending as a runner-up. That mixed return has not deterred Cagliari, who see an opportunity to capitalise on his earlier scoring record.

Nice, having invested significantly to bring Carlos from Basel and tied him to a long-term deal, are under no pressure to sell, and any negotiations with Cagliari would need to reflect both his contractual security and recent honours.