Nottingham Forest are close to signing Troyes defender Giulian Biancone with the player is set to undergo a medical today (Saturday, July 2).
Nottinghamshire Live understands that the 22-year-old will have a medical ahead of a move to the City Ground in the coming hours. Biancone, who has played primarily as a right-back, but has also featured at centre-back and even left-back during his fledgling career, has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past two seasons, which could continue with a move to the Premier League.
The AS Monaco academy graduate was handed his debut for the Principality club by then-manager Thierry Henry during the tail end of their Champions League campaign in the autumn of 2018. Five more appearances followed that season, including a goalscoring debut in the now-defunct Coupe de la Ligue against Lorient in a round of 16 tie.
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After breaking through into the senior set-up, Biancone was then loaned out to Monaco-owned Belgian club Cercle Brugge, who former Derby County boss Paul Clement coached for six months, for the best part of the next two seasons. Playing predominantly as a right-back, the young defender made 45 appearances and scored another two goals, as well as assisting a further three.
That form secured a transfer from Monaco to fellow Ligue 1 side Troyes, who are part of the City Football Group, which is headed by Manchester City, for a reported €2.5 million fee in 2021. In his first full season playing in his homeland, the former French under-19 international racked up 33 appearances and also contributed at the other end with a goal against Lens and assists against Angers and Nice while mainly being fielded as a centre-back.
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