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 purpose to safe a European spot for subsequent season.
The Reds have received over half of their league fixtures to this point, making them one of many in-form sides and one of many exterior 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 will probably be hoping his aspect can go far in that competitors as they appear to finish their look ahead to a significant trophy, which final arrived in 1990.
Forest have had some luck on their aspect this season as they’re but to choose up any main accidents or suspensions, however Espirito Santo will know they may chunk finally, and be hoping it doesn’t have an effect on his staff’s performances.
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Because the second half of the marketing campaign will get underway, the Portuguese boss could have his eye on a couple of arrivals earlier than the switch window closes, as he is not going to need his aspect to fall away after what has been a wonderful season to this point.
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 might assist them recover from the road.
Right here, we’ve taken a have a look at 5 gamers Forest ought to be trying to signal on this January switch window to make sure of success this time period.
1
Evan Ferguson
Brighton
It appears to be like very seemingly 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 a number of Premier League groups concerned with signing the Republic of Eire ahead, 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 objectives within the Premier League this season, and his place within the staff just isn’t going to return below risk for the remainder of the marketing campaign.
Nonetheless, Awoniyi is attracting switch curiosity himself, and Forest are presumably open to the pair leaving on this window. Subsequently, a substitute will probably be wanted, and Ferguson might be the proper participant to return to the Metropolis Floor and help Wooden.
The 20-year-old has 13 Premier League objectives to his title in over 50 matches, and will probably be desperate to show himself having solely been given restricted alternatives below Fabian Hurzeler.
This could be a low-risk signing for Forest, as Ferguson, who has been dubbed a “famous person” by Danny Murphy, could 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 might 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 staff.
One participant the Reds might look to herald is Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, as Forest could look to “discover” a transfer for Wissa if Awoniyi leaves the Metropolis Floor. The 28-year-old has been in great kind for the Bees this season, scoring 11 objectives in 19 Premier League video games, and that has now put him on Forest’s radar.
Wissa can play wherever throughout the frontline, which means his arrival wouldn’t simply assist out Wooden up prime, but in addition the likes of Elanga and Hudson-Odoi.
Wissa is a agency favorite at Brentford and is below contract till 2026, so Forest and Nuno might discover it exhausting to prise him away from a staff that can also be combating to complete in a European spot, and the Bees have even rebuffed their preliminary strategy.
3
Douglas Luiz
Juventus
Nottingham Forest have already got some good choices in the midst 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 signal the Brazilian from Juventus on this switch window, with a mortgage transfer being the 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 might 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 objectives and recording 24 assists in over 200 video games. His eye for a purpose whereas being a extra defensively minded participant makes him somebody who Espirito Santo would love in his midfield.
Ryan Yates and Elliot Anderson have performed properly in that midfield alongside Nicolas Dominguez, however Luiz’s potential arrival might simply add a bit extra metal and high quality to make sure they end within the prime 4.
Danilo has solely simply returned from the intense harm he picked up on the opening weekend, and Ibrahim Sangare is out injured, so choices in that space of the staff are fairly brief on the minute. As Luiz did at Villa Park, he might turn 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 objectives in 15 video games within the German second tier, and despite the fact that he has performed so properly, his membership have made it clear they will 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 will probably 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 season like the remaining.
Tzimas remains 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 substitute in the long run.
5
Rayan Cherki
Lyon
Espirito Santo could have his eye on including extra attacking high quality to his Nottingham Forest aspect this month, as he’ll need to ensure his aspect can sustain with the race on the prime of the league, all whereas having choices ought to the membership endure any accidents or suspensions.
One participant who might be a superb buy for the Reds is Rayan Cherki, who appears to be like set to go away Lyon on this switch window. The Frenchman has a verbal settlement with the Ligue 1 aspect 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 broad 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 objectives 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 might get so significantly better in a yr or two’s time. Cherki has been described as an “outrageous” participant, and his price ticket signifies that, for somebody of his high quality, he’s obtainable on a budget, and he might be a difference-maker by way of the place the Reds end this season.
