Nottingham Forest January transfer state of play as 'missing pieces' targeted in key window
by Sarah Clapson · NottinghamshireLiveIt is all going brilliantly for Nottingham Forest on the pitch as Nuno Espirito Santo's side made it five Premier League wins in a row with Sunday's 2-0 triumph over Everton. Meanwhile, plenty of work has been going on in the background ahead of the winter transfer window.
It could be a relatively quiet month for the Reds as solid foundations were put in place in the summer. Head coach Nuno already has a strong squad and much of the deadwood has already been trimmed.
But with a stunning first half of the season behind them, the club will know a few key deals next month could make a significant difference as they look to maintain their form. With the possibility of a European push in the offing, there is added importance on getting January right.
Nuno places as much emphasis on bringing in good characters as he does good players. He wants signings who will fit in and whose work ethic can be relied upon.
It is all about finding the pieces that fit into the puzzle. Where the Reds are concerned, there are not too many spaces to fill.
“Recruitment is more important than it has ever been. It is not only about tactical understanding and ability, but the human aspect and where you want to go. They have to fit into our culture," Nuno recently said. “It is also about avoiding mistakes, and being absolutely sure that when the player comes in he’s a piece that fits into your puzzle.”
Following the approach from a few months ago, of careful and considered business, is certainly the aim. Forest made some terrific signings in the summer, with the likes of Nikola Milenkovic and Elliot Anderson impressing in the past few months.
Crucially, the Reds also retained their prized assets. For Nuno, keeping the bulk of the squad in place was equally as important as adding to it.
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The likes of Murillo, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga all had their admirers. But all remained in situ as the Reds fended off any potential suitors, and Nuno will hope for a repeat scenario next month.
The club will also hope they can soon reach agreements with Chris Wood and Ola Aina over fresh terms for the duo. Both will be out of contract in the summer as things stand, but getting them tied down has to be a priority,
Up front is certainly an area Forest could do with strengthening. They tried to bolster their forward options in the summer but did not manage to get a deal over the line.
It would be no surprise if they try again in January. Reigniting interest in someone such as Omar Marmoush seems unlikely, given he has been banging in the goals for Eintracht Frankfurt and is sure to have increased his price tag.
However, a number of other forwards have been linked with moves to the City Ground. There has been plenty of talk about Corinthians’ Yuri Alberto, and he has made no secret of his desire to test himself in the Premier League. Botafogo’s Igor Jesus is also among the names to have been linked with the Reds.
The South American market is one Forest have utilised to good effect in the past. Nuno will offer his opinion on what might be required to help his team continue to compete at the top end of the table.
In terms of outgoings, the Reds do not have too many fringe players in need of moving on. Emmanuel Dennis is one as he was left out of the 25-man squad list for the first half of the season. However, there has been little speculation about potential moves for the attacker.
Midfielder Lewis O’Brien, by contrast, has caught the eye of a number of clubs. His loan with Los Angeles FC officially expires on December 31. The MLS outfit have an option to make his move a permanent one, but the likes of Leeds United and Hull City have been credited with an interest.
Forest will also weigh up whether to sanction a few loan deals with a view to securing regular game time for some players. Defender Andrew Omobamidele, for example, is said to be on the radar of several clubs and caught the eye of Leeds United in the summer.