Toby Bryant is a senior sports journalist who has been working with GiveMeSport since July 2026.
Formerly of LondonWorld, Toby previously worked on patch in the capital covering some of the country's biggest clubs, including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and West Ham.
Toby previously worked as a Sports Lifestyle Writer across the Iconic Media titles, having come through local news in Brighton and Newcastle.
Previous work has included The Daily Mail, The Daily Mirror, FantasyFootballScout, FourFourTwo Magazine, Metro and The Irish Times.
Toby is a graduate from Newcastle University and achieved his NCTJ qualification with the News Associates, before obtaining his senior NQJ while working with Iconic Media.
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Nottingham Forest are expected to launch a late hijack for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pape Matar Sarr before the end of the transfer window, as Oliver Glasner looks to add the final pieces to his squad at the City Ground. Xaver Schlager has already arrived at Forest from RB Leipzig on a free transfer to shore up midfield and came off the bench against Leeds last weekend, but another face is needed to make up for the loss of Elliot Anderson to Manchester City. Nottingham Forest could take their shopping to Premier League rivals Tottenham, who now have a surplus of midfield options following the marquee arrivals of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes. Spurs are looking to offset a big summer of spending, which could open the door for Forest to hijack a deal for Sarr.
Nottingham Forest plot hijack for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder
Sky Sports reports that Sarr has his heart set on a move to Ligue 1 outfit AS Monaco, with the French side pushing to complete a deal in the coming days. However, it's now stated that Forest have the financial clout to make Spurs favour a sale to a top-flight rival. It's claimed that the midfielder's 'absolute priority' is AS Monaco, with the club big admirers of the 23-year-old. An AS Monaco move would depend on an exit for Folarin Balogun, who has been linked with Spurs and Barcelona, to free up the necessary funds. Forest already have the money needed to meet Spurs' asking price of around £20 million to sanction the sale of Sarr. A loan move is also possible, and a temporary exit could see other teams enter the transfer race.
Which Club Is Actually The BIGGEST?
What is clear is that Tottenham want to have Sarr off the wage books for the 2026/27 campaign. Sky Sports claim that the player's relationship with the club and Roberto De Zerbi is broken and that Sarr is putting huge pressure on Spurs to finalise his exit. The midfielder had reached personal terms with Turkish side Galatasaray, but a bid of £15 million was a long way off the London side's valuation and that exit route was shut down.
Transfer Verdict: Pape Matar Sarr must be open to Nottingham Forest move
The Sky Sports report suggests that Sarr has Tottenham in the palm of his hand when it comes to his transfer exit. The club are desperate to move him on and the midfielder appears to be willing to move only to Monaco. That move would be a shame for the 23-year-old. Like many of his teammates, Sarr struggled at Spurs last season, but he still has his best years ahead of him and shouldn't call it a day in the Premier League.
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In September last season, Sarr looked to have been transformed by former manager Thomas Frank and was putting in barnstorming box-to-box performances. That run of form didn't last long, but it points to a player who can really dominate against Premier League opposition. The feeling is that Sarr needs to fall back in love with playing for a club again. When speaking about the player in 2024, Ange Postecoglou said: “Pape has a super energy about him. Every day he trains with a smile on his face but he works damn hard.
"I think he's a really exciting footballer. He's one of these midfielders you need these days, he's very dynamic, he covers the ground really well, defensively and offensively.
"He gets into the box, he's scored a couple of goals for us this year. His technical ability is strong and he's a good ball carrier as well, and he's still young. He's another one who I feel there is so much more growth in, in all aspects. I just really like his general demeanour. He feels like he's been blessed to have this opportunity and he's going to do everything to make the most out of it." Nottingham Forest could provide the perfect chance for Sarr to become that dynamic midfielder again. The departure of Anderson leaves a hole to be filled, and players such as Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton and Will Hughes have all flourished under Glasner in the past. It's a new era at the City Ground and there's a Sarr-sized hole at Forest.
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Roberto De Zerbi has previously coached him.