Latest Nottingham Forest verdict as Sean Dyche’s Reds navigate important January transfer window
Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jorgen Strand Larsen has been linked with Nottingham Forest(Image: Getty)
A fortnight in, the January transfer window is yet to really spark into life for Nottingham Forest.
Head coach Sean Dyche has consistently stated he expected it to be a relatively slow month at the City Ground – and so it has proved so far. The departure of Arnaud Kalimuendo on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt is the sum of the Reds’ dealings to date.
In an ideal world, Forest would get most of their business done early. However, they have tended to be particularly active later on in windows and they are certainly not alone in having a quiet start to this January.
Kalimuendo’s exit, however, has created a more pressing need to get a forward in. Currently, Dyche is very short of options at the top end of the pitch and much is resting on the shoulders of Igor Jesus.
Bringing in support as soon as possible has to be the aim for the Reds. Dyche has made clear the club want to secure the right signings and the best possible deals, but he will not want to be short in the striker stakes for too long.
Jesus needs some help, particularly as he will be required for the next two European games as well as some big Premier League matches. Forest are unable to change their Europa League squad until the league phase has been completed, and with Taiwo Awoniyi not included and Chris Wood sidelined, the Brazilian forward is unlikely to get much rest in the coming weeks.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Jorgen Strand Larsen is one of the front men on the club’s radar, although whether the Reds would be prepared to stump up a reported £40 million fee remains to be seen. Fenerbahce’s Youssef En-Nesyri, Roma’s Artem Dovbyk, Olympiacos’s Mehdi Taremi, Napoli’s Lorenzo Lucca and Brighton and Hove Albion’s Evan Ferguson, who is currently on loan at Roma, have also been linked.
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Other than adding a forward, sourcing a full-back before the February 2 deadline would represent good business for Forest. Arsenal loanee Oleksandr Zinchenko has put in some below-par performances during the first half of the season, so a left-back would make sense.
Also on the shopping list could be a midfielder amid speculation Douglas Luiz’s loan from Juventus could be cut short. A conditional obligation to buy, understood to be appearance based, is included in the deal and the Reds may well be wary of triggering it. Although there is little doubt about the Brazilian’s quality, he has struggled to stay fit.
Elliot Anderson has no shortage of admirers and although he is not expected to be sold this month, it could be a different story come the summer. Forest may well have an eye on looking ahead when it comes to assessing their options in the centre of the pitch. Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi has been linked with a switch to the City Ground.
When it comes to any signings, keeping within the financial regulations is a priority for Forest. They have fallen foul of Profitability and Sustainability Rules in the past and know the consequences, and they have no desire to be in such a situation again.
As for outgoings, if the Reds are able to find a move for Willy Boly it would represent good business given he is out of contract in the summer. Goalkeeper Angus Gunn is in the same situation and has previously indicated he may look to move on – which perhaps explains recent speculation about Forest being interested in Getafe’s David Soria, particularly with John Victor currently injured.
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