The versatile 20-year-old who can play in either midfield or defence, is expected to be the latest academy product to be leaving Unai Emery’s side as they look to comply with financial regulations.
Tim Iroegbunam has already left to join Everton for a fee of £9 million, whilst Omari Kellyman a former Derby County youth is expected to join Chelsea for £19 million.
Bogarde spent the entirety of 2023 on loan with Bristol Rovers in League One, after joining in the January transfer window, returning in the summer and then being recalled in the following January.
He made 36 appearances across all competitions (18 in the 22/23 season and 18 in the 23/24 season) contributing three assists in the process. However, following the departure of Joey Barton, he found himself down the pecking order of Andy Mangan and then permanent manager Matt Taylor’s plans.
The youngster has appeared once for his current club, in a 4-1 defeat by Liverpool in the FA Cup in 2021 and has made the bench for the senior side on several occasions. Now Nottingham Forest could spend an estimated €4million on his signature, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Something off with the move?
There has been a sudden influx of big money moves for inexperienced youngsters, just prior to the deadline for the Premier League’s accounting dates does ring some alarm bells. Colin Millar, a journalist for the Athletic pointed this out on X (Twitter):
“Three Premier League clubs spending big money on each other’s untested youth players before season accounting deadline of June 30. All 3 clubs can register immediate profit of sale while spreading expenditure of outgoings in several installments. Welcome to football in 2024.”
“Seems obvious that any club in similar situation would exploit a very obvious flaw in football laws. Rules to make football clubs sustainable financially should simply not make teenagers economic assets. Clubs should be encouraged to retain/develop them and PSR does the opposite.”
“This has been going on in football for years and is nothing new, but clubs mutually trading players separately for inflated transfer fees may solve a short-term accountancy problem but encourages longer-term financial commitments that are increasingly unsustainable.”
There are several clubs battling with compliance with the Premier League’s financial regulations which has resulted in several needing to raise funds, and quickly to ensure they don’t face further punishments.
