Elanga repeat, striker snub, panic buys - Nottingham Forest's nightmare January transfer window
Nottingham Forest know just how important this January transfer window is as they look to maintain their challenge at the top end of the Premier League table.
The Reds have been in terrific form of late and will want to keep that going. They make the trip to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night (8pm kick-off) looking to extend their winning run to six games.
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad does not require too much in the way of tinkering this month. And with that in mind, NottinghamshireLive looks at the situations Forest will be keen to avoid during the winter window.
Stars depart
For Nuno, the summer window was as much about the deals that didn’t happen as the ones that did. The Portuguese placed equal value on players being retained as his squad being added to.
He will hope for the same again this month. The Reds have got a good thing going and they want to build on the foundations put in place. Avoiding too much disruption is the aim.
As such, the nightmare scenario would be to see key players leave. Forest are doing well so the flip side to that is players catching the eye of any potential suitors. The likes of Murillo, Anthony Elanga, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Morgan Gibbs-White all continue to have admirers.
The club are well placed to hang on to their prized assets again but they could still do without any unsettling transfer rumours. And a repeat of a last-minute bid - as was the case with Elanga when Newcastle United tried their luck on deadline day in August - would not be ideal as no club wants to be left making such a big call when the clock is ticking.
No striker
Missing out on a striker in the summer has hardly affected the Reds in the first half of the season. They have managed perfectly well so far with just Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi as the out-and-out forwards.
Nevertheless, bolstering Nuno’s options will be a priority this month. Cover is needed just in case Forest get unlucky with injuries, especially as Awoniyi is yet to get on the scoresheet this term.
It would hardly be a disaster if the club do not get a deal over the line but it is the one area most in need of attention. A key factor will be avoiding paying over the odds; Forest refused to splash the cash for the sake of it in August and they will not want to be held to ransom this time around.
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Panic buying
The summer window was characterised by sensible business at the City Ground. The Reds negotiated some excellent deals and most of the signings made have proved to be fantastic additions.
Following the same kind of template is the aim this month. What Forest really need to steer clear of is any kind of last-minute panic buying.
Both owner Evangelos Marinakis and Nuno have emphasised the importance of maintaining the status quo. The dressing room does not require a major overhaul; indeed, Forest are conscious that overseeing too many changes could actually have a detrimental effect.
Anything with the potential to disrupt the momentum built on the pitch and a strong team spirit is to be avoided. That is why Nuno looks at a player’s characteristics as much as his quality when assessing targets.
