Currently sitting fifth in the National League and two points adrift of top spot, Forest Green Rovers could be set to suffer a blow to their title challenge.
The Nailsworth side’s captain, Laurent Mendy, is wanted by Scottish Premiership side Hearts of Midlothian. The Jam Tarts currently sit top of the division ahead of Celtic and Rangers.
The 28-year-old has had an impressive start to his Forest Green career after following manager Robbie Savage from Macclesfield in the summer. His impressive season so far has attracted attention from Derek McInnes’ team, who have, according to Pete O’Rourke, submitted a bid for the midfielder.
How has Laurent Mendy performed so far for Forest Green Rovers?
The defensive midfielder has been one of the standout performers so far for the Gloucestershire side. Mendy has made 26 appearances in the National League and has contributed significantly to the eight clean sheets picked up by Rovers.
According to SofaScore, the defensive midfielder ranks second at the club for accurate passes and long balls per game. He averages 37.2 passes and 3.8 long balls per match, with a passing success rate of 76%, enabling him to support his team in transitioning seamlessly from defence to attack.
Having the versatility to play both in defensive midfield and at centre-back is also a significant reason why Forest Green have performed so well this season. Mendy ranks first at the club for clearances with an average of 3.3 per game.
In an exclusive interview with the National League Lowdown, Robbie Savage discussed the impact of Laurent Mendy and how he has got the best out of his attributes:
“Mendy has been quite remarkable, incredible. What a guy, what a player, he has been brilliant”“He’s got that energy and desire, but the biggest problem for Mendy is he’s so good in both positions”“Mendy plays centre-half because we have all the ball and he can drive out with the ball”
Some of why Forest Green are currently challenging for the title could be chalked down to the work-rate and quality of Laurent Mendy. On the back of his performances, there is little surprise that he is attracting transfer speculation this January.
Can Laurent Mendy make the step up to the Scottish Premiership?
With Hearts sitting top of the division in Scotland, a move for Mendy would be another jump up a level for him. The 28-year-old’s move to the National League in the summer gave him his first experience of full-time football.
On top of this, he progressed up two divisions when moving to the New Lawn with Macclesfield competing in the Northern Premier League last season. His agility and ball-winning attributes will be a significant benefit to Hearts should he make the move.
So far this season, Mendy has completed, on average, 18.3 ball recoveries and won 14.2 duels per 90 minutes. This showcases the midfielder’s athleticism and determination to win possession for his side.
When looking at Hearts’ statistics from this season, it may be that Mendy would fit into their system nicely. According to Fotmob, the Edinburgh side rank fourth for average possession (52.7%) and first for tackles per match (18.6), which may allow the Forest Green midfielders’ attributes to flourish.
As a Macclesfield fan, National League Lowdown co-host Mark has watched Mendy’s rise and is confident that he could make the step up:
“He will always be a favourite of mine, and through sheer hard work, a big move will suit him. He’s earned it.”
The move to Forest Green last summer was a significant step up, both personally and professionally, for the 28-year-old and one which has been managed with ease. With this in mind and the attributes he has as a player, it would be little surprise if Laurent Mendy was able to make the step up to the Scottish Premiership should a move materialise.