This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...
Nottingham Forest manager Sabri Lamouchi looks like he is making a move for a player he first considered late last year, with the club looking to finalise a deal to bring French midfielder Ilyas El Khabchi, to the City Ground, according to a report by TEAMtalk.
El Khabchi was recommended to the club last year after impressing in the French lower leagues and came to train at the City Ground, but injury cut short his stay and he returned to France for rehab, but now fit again he has returned to Forest to train with the U23's.
So would El Khabchi be a good addition at the City Ground and is the midfielder actually needed?
We discuss..........
Ethan Van Ristell
"The 21-year-old returned to Forest to train with the Under-23's and Sabri Lamouchi could sign the French youngster if he impresses and proves his fitness.
"El Khabchi also trialled with the team earlier this season, but an injury saw him return to France for rehabilitation. He previously played for French fifth tier side, Jura Dolois.
"Although Lamouchi will now know if the Frenchman is up to the standard required from his displays in training, going after a relatively unknown player from the lower reaches of the French football pyramid is always going to be a risk.
"Another midfielder is not necessarily needed for Nottingham Forest at this stage, but this deal looks likely to happen. It will be up to the 21-year-old to show what he is capable of."
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Jacob Potter
"It’s another player who could be a star in the future for Forest.
"They’ve got a number of young players that have real potential to go on and play at the very top, with Matty Cash and Brennan Johnson being just a couple of those options.
"El Khabchi could be the next player to progress through to the first team if he arrived at the City Ground as well, and I think Sabri Lamouchi would be able to get the best out of him.
"He’ll need to prove his fitness to the Reds though, as he previously suffered an injury which saw him return to France earlier this term.
"Added depth in midfield is never a bad thing to have for a manager, so I don’t see an issue with Forest eyeing a move for the 21-year-old."
Toby Wilding
"This does look like it could be a sensible move for Forest to make.
"Despite his lack of experience, which has come at a relatively low level in the French fifth-tier, there are elements of this that do look encouraging for Forest.
"Given they have already seen El Khabchi in action, and seem to like the look of him, it could be argued that they already know what they will be getting if they secure his signature here, meaning he may have more potential than his career so far might suggest.
"Indeed, given the size of the club he would be coming from - Jura Dolois - this is unlikely to be an expensive signing for Forest, which does at least reduce the financial risk of bringing El Khabchi to the City Ground."