The Premier League desk clearly demonstrates Nottingham Forest’s surprising success within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, and their spectacular performances have earned them their present place as they goal to safe a European spot for subsequent season.
The Reds have gained over half of their league fixtures thus far, making them one of many in-form sides and one of many outdoors contenders within the Premier League title race.
In addition to the Premier League, Forest are additionally into the fourth spherical of the FA Cup, and Nuno Espirito Santo shall be hoping his facet can go far in that competitors as they give the impression of being to finish their watch for a serious trophy, which final arrived in 1990.
Forest have had some luck on their facet this season as they’re but to select up any main accidents or suspensions, however Espirito Santo will know they may chew ultimately, and be hoping it doesn’t have an effect on his crew’s performances.
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Because the second half of the marketing campaign will get underway, the Portuguese boss might have his eye on just a few arrivals earlier than the switch window closes, as he is not going to need his facet to fall away after what has been a wonderful season thus far.
It’s unclear how a lot cash the membership has within the financial institution, however with a top-four spot of their sights, including one or two gamers earlier than the deadline may assist them recover from the road.
Right here, we have now taken a have a look at 5 gamers Forest ought to be seeking to signal on this January switch window to make sure of success this time period.
1
Evan Ferguson
Brighton
It seems very doubtless that Evan Ferguson will depart Brighton & Hove Albion earlier than the switch window slams shut on third February, even when that’s solely on mortgage.
There are several Premier League teams interested in signing the Republic of Ireland forward, however the Seagulls are but to provide the go-ahead for a deal to undergo.
The Reds at present have Emmanuel Dennis, Taiwo Awoniyi and Chris Wooden as their centre-forward choices. Wooden is clearly their main man with 14 targets within the Premier League this season, and his place within the crew will not be going to come back beneath risk for the remainder of the marketing campaign.
Nonetheless, Awoniyi is attracting transfer interest himself, and Forest are presumably open to the pair leaving on this window. Subsequently, a alternative shall be wanted, and Ferguson may very well be the right participant to come back to the Metropolis Floor and help Wooden.
The 20-year-old has 13 Premier League targets to his title in over 50 matches, and shall be wanting to show himself having solely been given restricted alternatives beneath Fabian Hurzeler.
This is able to be a low-risk signing for Forest, as Ferguson, who has been dubbed a “superstar” by Danny Murphy, can be becoming a member of on a mortgage deal, so the Reds wouldn’t be tied to the participant or spending an enormous quantity on his companies.
2
Yoane Wissa
Brentford
Signing a brand new attacker may very well be on Forest’s agenda on this switch window, as Chris Wooden, Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi have all been closely relied upon this season, main Espirito Santo so as to add extra depth and high quality to that space of the crew.
One participant the Reds may look to herald is Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, as Forest may look to “explore” a move for Wissa if Awoniyi leaves the Metropolis Floor. The 28-year-old has been in super type for the Bees this season, scoring 11 targets in 19 Premier League video games, and that has now put him on Forest’s radar.
Wissa can play wherever throughout the frontline, that means his arrival wouldn’t simply assist out Wooden up high, but additionally the likes of Elanga and Hudson-Odoi.
Wissa is a agency favorite at Brentford and is beneath contract till 2026, so Forest and Nuno may discover it exhausting to prise him away from a crew that can be combating to complete in a European spot, and the Bees have even rebuffed their initial approach.
3
Douglas Luiz
Juventus
Nottingham Forest have already got some good choices in the course of the park, however similar to different positions, they may look to freshen issues up, and Juventus’ Douglas Luiz has already emerged as a participant they’re concerned with signing.
It’s been claimed that Forest have made contact to sign the Brazilian from Juventus on this switch window, with a mortgage transfer being the most probably end result. Luiz has struggled in Turin since his transfer from Aston Villa, and given how properly he did within the Premier League, he may very well be a wonderful addition for the Reds.
The £135k-per-week midfielder was a key participant for Villa throughout his time on the membership, scoring 22 targets and recording 24 assists in over 200 video games. His eye for a objective whereas being a extra defensively minded participant makes him somebody who Espirito Santo would love in his midfield.
Ryan Yates and Elliot Anderson have finished properly in that midfield alongside Nicolas Dominguez, however Luiz’s potential arrival may simply add a bit extra metal and high quality to make sure they end within the high 4.
Danilo has solely simply returned from the intense damage he picked up on the opening weekend, and Ibrahim Sangare is out injured, so choices in that space of the crew are fairly brief on the minute. As Luiz did at Villa Park, he may change into an actual favorite on the Metropolis Floor, particularly if he helps the Reds attain the Champions League.
4
Stefanos Tzimas
Nurnberg (on mortgage from PAOK)
Stefanos Tzimas is a participant who has actually impressed throughout his mortgage spell at FC Nurnberg and has now emerged on the radar of a number of Premier League groups. The 19-year-old has 9 targets in 15 video games within the German second tier, and though he has finished so properly, his membership have made it clear they’ll set off their loan-to-buy clause earlier than promoting the participant for £25m in the summertime.
Nonetheless, Forest are in want of a brand new striker, and shall be much more so if Dennis or Awoniyi depart this month. Subsequently, the Reds ought to look to get forward of the remaining and make a transfer for the younger striker now as a substitute of ready till the summer time like the remaining.
Tzimas continues to be younger and can want time to adapt to the Premier League, however as a substitute of getting a extra skilled, older backup to Wooden, they may look to get a youthful striker who can study from the New Zealand worldwide and be his ready-made alternative in the long run.
5
Rayan Cherki
Lyon
Espirito Santo might have his eye on including extra attacking high quality to his Nottingham Forest facet this month, as he’ll need to be certain that his facet can sustain with the race on the high of the league, all whereas having choices ought to the membership endure any accidents or suspensions.
One participant who may very well be a great buy for the Reds is Rayan Cherki, who seems set to go away Lyon on this switch window. The Frenchman has a verbal settlement with the Ligue 1 facet that he can depart on this switch window for €22.5m (£19m).
Cherki’s availability ought to alert Forest, as he’s a participant who can once more enhance their extensive choices, however he’s additionally somebody who can present competitors for Morgan Gibbs-White, because the Englishman is Forest’s solely actual No 10 of their squad.
Cherki has been an excellent performer for Lyon, getting among the many targets and assists, and given he’s solely 21, he would absolutely be a worthy funding for the Reds as somebody who improves their squad instantly.
The attacker may be a participant who may get so a lot better in a 12 months or two’s time. Cherki has been described as an “outrageous” participant, and his price ticket implies that, for somebody of his high quality, he’s obtainable on a budget, and he may very well be a difference-maker by way of the place the Reds end this season.
