Premier League rivals warned Brentford are ‘ahead of the curve’ after signing award-winning star

Mamadou Sangare’s arrival at Brentford shows they mean business – this is a signing a ‘Champions League contender would usually make’.

That’s according to talkSPORT’s Kevin Hatchard, who has highlighted the Bees‘ impressive summer business after they pulled off the signing of highly-rated prospect Sangare.

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The Mali international moved to west London for a club record fee from RC Lens after a standout debut season in Ligue 1.

While the exact figure was undisclosed, Brentford said it surpasses the £42.5m paid to sign Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth in 2025.

It’s a move that has caught the eye of many, with Sangare turning down the prospect of Champions League football with Lens, as well as interest from top clubs – including Manchester United and Chelsea.

And it isn’t hard to see why, with his growing reputation coming after he played a major role in Lens’ second-place Ligue 1 finish last term.

Having also helped guide Les Sang et Or to Coupe de France glory, Sangare was subsequently named in Ligue 1’s Team of the Year, ahead of Champions League-winning Paris Saint-Germain duo Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz.

Big statement

Now gearing up for Brentford’s Premier League opener against Tottenham on Saturday, Sangare could be just the man to transform them from European contenders to qualifiers this season.

Tipped for relegation ahead of the 2025/26 campaign after losing influential head coach Thomas Frank last summer, the Bees instead narrowly missed out European qualification on the final day, but have been backed to go one better this year.

And according to Hatchard, Keith Andrews’ side mean business with Sangare in their ranks, as he outlined what he will bring to the table.

Discussing the signing on the talkSPORT Daily podcast, Hatchard began: “I think it tells you a lot because this is the guy that was one of the best players in Ligue 1 last season. 

“Sangare produced some amazing midfield displays himself last season. He was in that Ligue 1 Team of the Year on merit. 

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“They were extraordinary last season – Lens, to push PSG all the way in the title race was phenomenal. But then to also win the Coupe de France was crazy.”

Brentford have long been known for unearthing hidden gems and developing them into elite talent – namely signing Bryan Mbeumo whilst still in the Championship in 2019, as well as discovering last season’s 22-goal striker Igor Thiago.

But Hatchard believes Sangare’s arrival could be their biggest move yet, who he insisted is good enough to play for Europe’s elite.

A defensive midfielder capable of getting forward too, the Mali star ranked first in Ligue 1 for tackles won and possession won in the middle third, as well as scoring three goals in 29 league outings.

Hatchard continued: “Physically, I think he’ll really fit what Brentford do. He’ll fit the Premier League. 

“And I think this is the kind of signing that a club in Europe or a Champions League contender would usually make. 

“And I think it shows the power of the Premier League because if he rocked up at Milan or Atletico Madrid or Dortmund, you wouldn’t bat an eyelid. That’s the kind of signing a club like that would make.

“The fact that Brentford have been able to bring in somebody like Sangare tells you a lot – A. about the power of the Premier League and B. about how Brentford have made real leaps forward and are really trusted, I think.”

‘So much to like’

Continuing to hail Sangare as a major coup, Hatchard likened his arrival to Brentford’s signing of Michael Kayode in 2025.

Known for his lethal long-throw deliveries, the highly-rated Italian footballer has developed into one of the Premier League’s standout full-backs and was nominated for last season’s Young Player of the Year award.

On Sangare, Hatchard said: “I might come unstuck here, but I genuinely can’t see how it goes wrong because there’s so much to like about his game.

“I think they’re not the same player at all, but I was so impressed with the way they got Kayode and developed him. 

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“I think they are totally different positions, totally different players, but the way that they brought in a guy there that had edges to smooth, but you knew had something and got him ahead of plenty of other clubs.

“This feels similar in the fact that it feels like they’re ahead of the curve here.”

Outlining why Sangare is the perfect signing, Hatchard added: “He’s box to box. He can give you a bit of everything, really.

“He’s got that ability to break up attacks, but he’s always looking to get forward, play forward, be positive.

“And I think that will really suit Brentford because one of the things that they rely upon is set plays. There’s nothing wrong with that.

“What do you need for that? You need to get up the pitch and he will help them get up the pitch. So a little bit like Manzambi at Villa, that ability to carry the ball, that ability to really drive, draw contact and draw free kicks.