How the Reds are shaping up in each position
WITH the Championship fixtures out this week and pre-season drawing closer, speculation continues about how Chris Hughton’s Nottingham Forest squad will look come August.
There is no getting away from the importance of this transfer window for the Reds, as they target a promotion push next term.
They have yet to make any new signings, but have seen 12 players depart through loans expiring and contracts coming to an end.
Currently, there are 24 players on the books, plus youngsters coming through who will hope to get their chance to impress.
We take a look at how Forest stand in each area of the pitch.
■■Goalkeeper
Brice Samba and Jordan Smith are the only two senior keepers left, after the club decided not to take up the option to extend Abdoulaye Diallo’s stay.
The Reds do have some promising youngsters, in Jordan Wright and George Shelvey.
But they have also been linked with Wayne Hennessey, who is out of contract at Crystal Palace, to fill the void of a third senior keeper and provide competition, should they go down that path.
■■Defence
If Cyrus Christie does not return, following his loan stint from Fulham, another right-back is sure to be on the shopping list.
Jordan Gabriel will be given an opportunity to push for a place, having played his part in securing promotion with Blackpool.
But with Carl Jenkinson out of favour, that is an area which still needs strengthening, with youngster Jayden Richardson likely to require more experience.
It could be a similar scenario on the opposite flank.
Yuri Ribeiro has left, Gaetan Bong could yet move on and Nicholas Ioannou has previously hinted he would be keen to remain in Greece, having been on loan with Aris Thessaloniki. Depending on how their situations play out, that could leave Tyler Blackett as Hughton’s only left-back.
At centre-back, Michael Dawson and Michael Hefele were among those released, leaving Joe Worrall, Tobias Figueiredo, Scott Mckenna and Loic Mbe Soh as options, with Blackett also capable of stepping in.
Much will no doubt depend on what happens with Worrall, amid a fair bit of Premier League interest in the 24-year-old.
If the Reds hang on to him, it is one position they look particularly strong in - especially given his promising partnership with Mckenna.
Sell him, though, and suddenly they would look a little light.
Worrall’s situation may also have a knock-on effect for Mbe Soh, given Hughton has previously hinted a loan move could be considered for the EX-PSG man next term.
■■Defensive midfield
James Garner is on Forest’s wishlist, but whether they are able to bring back the Manchester United youngster for another spell remains to be seen.
If a return is ruled out, the Reds could do worse than finding someone in a similar mould.
Although Hughton had more central midfielders than he knew what to do with last term, numbers have already been trimmed with the departure of Garner and Samba Sow.
Harry Arter and Fouad Bachirou could yet follow.
Garner showed the difference it can make having someone with a bit of dynamism in that position.
Jack Colback will hope to get more of an opportunity and Tyrese Fornah will aim to impress after being with Plymouth Argyle, while Ryan Yates has been a regular under Hughton and Cafu can operate in a deeper role.
■■Attacking midfield
The focus will be on sorting out the front end of the pitch this summer. Finding a solution for the number 10 spot will be key to getting the most out of Forest’s attack.
Some fans would like to see Joao Carvalho there.
The club record signing will be back for pre-season, as things stand, with Almeria not taking up the option to make his move permanent.
Brennan Johnson, fresh from a sparkling stint at Lincoln City, could also step in - as well as being capable of playing on the wing.
Cafu and Lewis Grabban could operate as 10s, too, with Hughton
having experimented with the latter in a link role in the final game of last term.
But it is a position which needs some attention. Likewise, the wide areas.
Even when they had Anthony Knockaert and Filip Krovinovic in the squad, Forest lacked strength in depth across their attacking unit. With those two back at their parent clubs, numbers have been diminished further.
Bringing in quality is a must, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur youngster Jack Clarke said to be on the club’s radar as a potential winger recruit.
The hope will be Joe Lolley can get back to his best, once he returns from injury, while Alex Mighten and Johnson can play key roles.
■■Strikers
There is no question the Reds need to bring in at least one, potentially two, forwards. They need to score more goals. Grabban and Lyle Taylor remain under contract, but they need more competition, while the latter has also been linked with a move away.
The future of Nuno Da Costa looks uncertain, while another loan move may be more beneficial for youngster Will Swan.
Forest have plenty of potential targets, with the likes of Dion Charles, Jerry Yates, Britt Assombalonga and Stephen Humphrys said to be among those being considered.
Most of them seem to have a number of sides battling to secure their services, but the Reds must win the race to sign the right one.