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Key blueprint, position to target, crucial stance - Nottingham Forest's transfer to-do list
Nottingham Forest will be all too aware of the importance of the January transfer window as they aim to build on their fine start to the Premier League season.
Given how well Nuno Espirito Santo's side have done so far, making the right decisions carries added importance. There is no need to disrupt things too much, but a few key changes could make the difference in the Reds' bid to finish as high up the table as possible.
There are some big games to come before then, starting with a trip to Arsenal when the action resumes on November 23 (3pm kick-off). But with the new year just around the corner, we take a look at what could be on Forest’s transfer to-do list.
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For the best approach to adopt in January, the Reds need to only look back a few months. Sensible and considered business in the summer has reaped rewards on the pitch in the opening months of the campaign- and it should be a case of the same again in the winter window.
Forest were smart in their dealings going into the 2024/25 campaign. They bought well and ensured Nuno was left with strength in depth but did not splash cash for the sake of it. There was no last-minute panic-buying, even when certain targets did not come off.
The blueprint is there. Go down a similar route again when January comes around, and the club will not go far wrong.
Position to target
As it stands, Nuno is well stocked in most areas of the pitch. The Reds do not need an influx of new players for the second half of the season.
The situation could change, of course. There is always the potential for injuries or unexpected departures to impact plans.
But the one key area really in need of looking at is up front. Despite having a number of players on their target list, Forest did not manage to bring in another striker before the August 30 deadline in the summer.
The red-hot form of Chris Wood has meant they have not been hindered by missing out. But with Taiwo Awoniyi still yet to get off the mark, adding to Nuno’s forward options will surely be a priority.
Stance to take
There was no shortage of speculation about the Reds’ star men in the summer. Murillo, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga all had their admirers.
Forest managed to hang on to all of them, though. And Nuno has been very clear about how that was one of the most important aspects of the window for him.
He will hope January pans out the same way. Given recent performances, there is bound to be interest in the club’s prized assets again - Murillo, in particular, has been the subject of transfer rumours of late. But fending off any potential suitors will allow the Reds to build on the foundations they have already put in place in the opening weeks of the campaign.
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Departures to oversee
Retaining their key players is one thing, but Forest will likely still look to sanction a few exits in the winter window. They got through a lot of work in the summer with regards to trimming numbers so they do not have too much deadwood left to offload.
Emmanuel Dennis was left out of the 25-man squad list so is one man the club will certainly try to find a move elsewhere for. Lewis O’Brien’s time at the City Ground is also set to come to an end as he seemingly has several options for when his LAFC loan expires on December 31.
Beyond those two, decisions will need to be taken on Willy Boly and Harry Toffolo at some point soon as their contracts are due to expire in the summer. Both are struggling to get in the team, so a big factor in what happens will be whether they are keen to secure regular game time. Chris Wood and Ola Aina are also due to become free agents at the end of the season, but the Reds are keen to tie them down to fresh terms.
