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Three ways Nottingham Forest could line up after transfer window with exciting striker signing
Nottingham Forest will look ahead to the January transfer window with the knowledge that only minimal tinkering should be required.
Having a settled side has paid dividends for the Reds in recent weeks amid their positive start to the Premier League season. And thanks to their strong summer window, head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has strength in depth across the pitch.
If there is one area Forest could do with reinforcements in, though, it is up front. It was a wise decision not to spend for the sake of it a few months ago, but adding another forward in the new year will surely be a top priority.
Chris Wood has shouldered the majority of the goalscoring burden so far, and the Reds will have their fingers tightly crossed for him to stay fit for the remainder of the campaign. But with Taiwo Awoniyi yet to find the back of the net this term, bringing in a striker would ease the pressure on Wood.
It is not necessarily an easy position to target in January. Selling clubs know they can charge a premium for forwards at the best of times, and even more so in the winter window.
Forest didn’t manage to get a deal over the line for a front man in the summer, despite having a number of players on their radar. They may well look to revisit some of those targets in the coming weeks, but one player they have been linked with since is Bayern Munich teenager Mathys Tel.
The 19-year-old has some fierce competition ahead of him in the pecking order at the German giants, including England captain Harry Kane. With that in mind, the possibility of a January loan has been mooted.
Signing youngsters with bags of potential has been a theme of recent transfer windows for the Reds, so Tel would fit in with that. Additionally, it could be that waiting until the summer to spend big on a striker ensures better value for money - with Tel a good option for cover in the meantime.
His versatility would also make him very useful for Forest. Asked how he would describe his own playing style, Tel has said: “I'm somewhere between a number nine and a left winger. I can also play on the right, but I'm more comfortable as a striker and on the left."
For anyone, forcing their way into the Reds’ starting XI will not be easy. From front to back, the players in possession of the shirts have been performing well - so much so that the likes of midfielder James Ward-Prowse is currently having to settle for a place on the bench, while wingers Jota Silva and Ramon Sosa are both chomping at the bit for their first league starts.
But if Tel does end up being a player Forest target, how would he fit in? As mentioned, he can fulfil a few different roles. With one key signing in January, Nuno could have decent cover and competition at the top end of the pitch.
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Moreover, come the turn of the year the Reds head coach will hope to have midfielders Ibrahim Sangare and Danilo back in contention. It is hoped the duo will be back in training next month, although it will take time to build up their fitness. Even with minimal additions in January, Nuno may well suddenly have more options at his disposal. Below, we take a look at some of the ways Forest could line up in the second half of the campaign.
Forest XI with Tel as a striker: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Yates, Dominguez; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Tel.
Forest XI with Tel as a left winger: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Yates, Dominguez; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Tel; Wood.
Forest XI with Danilo and Sangare back, plus changes in attack: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Sangare, Danilo; Jota, Anderson, Sosa; Wood.
