Nottingham Forest are targeting Manchester City right-back Issa Kabore if they fail to strike a deal for Middlesbrough's Djed Spence according to the Manchester Evening News.
Kabore, 21, impressed this season on loan at French Ligue 1 club Troyes, making 31 appearances as he helped the newly-promoted side maintain top-flight status.
Troyes are Manchester City's sister club but a return to France's Champagne region for the defender looks as though it could be off the cards following Forest's interest.
Should Forest fail in their attempts to lure loanee Djed Spence to the City Ground on a permanent deal from Middlesbrough, the club are drawing up a list of other potential targets as they embark on a first Premier League campaign since 1999.
Kabore is high up on the shortlist for Steve Cooper but the Forest boss may have to settle for a loan deal despite first-team football at City unlikely anytime soon for the Burkina Faso international.
A move to the City Ground could be tempting for both Pep Guardiola and Kabore with Cooper's stock rising rapidly and a proven track record of developing youth players
Kabore represented his country at this year's Africa Cup of Nations, helping his side reach the semi-final, eventually being eliminated by overall winners Senegal.
He impressed during the competition in Cameroon, scooping the Young Player of the Tournament award.
Meanwhile, Forest remain keen on signing Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White from Wolves.
Attacking midfielder Gibbs-White has returned to Molineux after a loan spell at Sheffield United and boss Wolves boss Bruno Lage wants the 22-year-old to stay at the club.
Forest have competition from Southampton for his signature with The Sun reporting that it would take a bid in excess of £25 million to land the player.
Gibbs-White scored 12 goals across all competitions for the Blades, including one in their play-off semi-final defeat to Forest last month.