FOREST MIGHT HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS TO DO
A SECOND transfer deadline day is coming for Nottingham Forest.
The first one, for deals involving clubs from two countries, was relatively calm after the storm of the summer, with 13 players signed.
Cafu’s move from Olympiacos was confirmed, with Yohan Benalouane and Nuno Da Costa, on loan, leaving.
So what might happen before Friday’s 5pm deadline halts domestic moves until January?
WHAT DO FOREST WANT?
Despite all their summer business, the squad is still a little bottom-heavy. They are well stocked for goalkeepers, defenders and defensive midfielders.
They also have three strikers, two of whom are proven in the Championship, but a winger is still needed as Joe Lolley, Alex Mighten and Sammy Ameobi are the only specialist wide options.
Anthony Knockaert looks like the top target, which is understandable given the success he and new manager Chris Hughton had together at Brighton, when they won promotion to the Premier League.
It was reported this week that Forest had seen a season-long loan bid rebuffed by Fulham, but they are set to return.
Newcastle United winger Christian Atsu is another option, with Newcastle reportedly keen to cut fringe players off their wage bill. Forest would only have to pay a percentage of his Premier League salary.
Another target is Kamil Grosicki.
Forest were close to signing the winger from West Bromwich Albion on the last deadline day.
Initially, that was said to have been in the form of a loan from Olympiacos, who would have signed the player themselves. That then became a straight deal between Forest and Albion, before that failed to materialise.
Now Forest could go back in for a player who has been a long-term target. He might be 32, but he won promotion last season and is a current Polish international.
On the defensive front, Liverpool’s Nathaniel Phillips has once again been linked.
FRINGE PLAYERS WHO MIGHT LEAVE
Hughton has promised every player will get a fair chance but the squad is seriously bloated, given their prolific transfer business.
A pecking order will still remain. Twenty-seven players are listed in the first team section of the club website, with Zach Clough, Michael Hefele and Gaeton Bong not included.
Bong worked with Hughton at Brighton but Forest have Nicholas Iannou, Yuri Ribeiro and Tyler Blackett as left-backs.
Given Forest have a dearth of central defenders, Hefele could yet depart with the benefit of trimming the wage bill.
Clough’s last first team game was in April 2019, in League One during a loan spell with Rochdale. The 25-year-old’s demise is a sad tale, given the ability he showed with Bolton Wanderers and his early days at Forest.
He desperately needs a move or to feature under Hughton, otherwise his undoubted talent threatens to go to waste.
SENIOR PLAYERS WHO MIGHT LEAVE
Yuro Ribeiro found himself exiled from the squad in the latter days of Sabri Lamouchi. Iannou did well in his appearance against Bristol City and Blackett is pushing for his place.
A parting of the ways would come as no surprise, despite Ribeiro’s good performances last season.
The odds are Joe Worrall stays but Burnley will be on the look-out for a centre-half if James Tarkowski leaves, with Manchester United the last club linked with the England international.
That said, Burnley have not met Forest’s valuation of the player before and Worrall’s value would only increase if Burnley have millions in the bank.
Tobias Figueiredo was a mainstay of the defence last season but has started this season in terrible form.
It is understood he would welcome a return to Portugal for nonfootball reasons, should the opportunity arise. That door has closed until January, meaning the chances of Figueiredo leaving for an English club are minimal.
YOUNGSTERS OUT ON LOAN
Forest’s brightest young players - Jake Taylor, Tyrese Fornah, Marcus Mcguane, Brennan Johnson, Danny Preston, Jordan Gabriel and Jayden Richardson - are already on loan.
There is still plenty of talent at the club, with the likes of Virgil Gomis and Will Swan candidates for loans to non-league sides to gain further experience.