Nottingham Forest have confirmed that Ateef Konate has joined Oxford United on loan.
Konate, who was also linked with a permanent move to Championship play-off hopefuls Sunderland, has put pen-to-paper on a deal until the end of the season at Oxford. The 21-year-old is clearly highly rated at Forest given their reluctance to let him leave permanently and his move to the Kassam Stadium will hand him the opportunity to get regular first team minutes for the first time in his career.
Konate enjoyed a brief taste of senior football for Forest last season, playing 90 minutes in EFL Cup ties against Bradford City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, as well as a brief cameo from the bench in the 3-0 Championship win over Barnsley. He has been in impressive form for the U21s at Premier League Two level this season, scoring eight goals in as many appearances.
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He also won the PL2 player of the month in October and will be looking to transfer that form to Oxford as helps them push into the top-half of the table in the second half of the season.
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