With less than 24 hours left of the transfer window, Nottingham Forest boss Chris Hughton still has a number of positions in which he still wants to strengthen by bringing in transfers.
Positions Nottingham Forest Will Look to Strengthen in Final Hours of Transfer Window
Chris Hughton Still Has Transfers To Make at Nottingham Forest
The Reds have made five signings so far this summer. Ethan Horvath has moved to the City Ground from Club Brugges on a permanent deal; Philip Zinckernagel (Watford), James Garner (Manchester United), Jordi Osei-Tutu (Arsenal) and Max Lowe (Sheffield United) have all joined on loan deals.
EFL rules stipulate that teams can have a maximum of five loan players in their matchday squad, meaning the Reds may be looking to completing permanent deals.
Here Last Word on Football takes a look at three positions Forest need to sign players in before the window closes.
Forward
Last season Chris Hughton’s side had the second-lowest goalscoring record in the Championship – only Derby County scored fewer than the Reds.
It is no surprise, therefore, that the attacking department is an area in which Hughton is keen on strengthening in the transfer window.
Within that position the Reds’ only senior options are Lewis Grabban and Lyle Taylor, the latter of which was briefly linked with a move away from the City Ground.
Will Swain provides a youthful dimension up-front for Forest but the young forward is yet to feature for the first team this season but made three appearances – including two starts – for the Under-23s team.
Midfielder
The addition of James Garner has somewhat lessened the urgency of improving in midfield but it remains a priority nonetheless.
Jack Colback and Ryan Yates have occupied the two holding midfield positions in Hughton’s preferred 4-2-3-1 set-up for most of the season.
When Hughton has looked to mix things up, he has either included Cafu or – so far exclusively for Carabao Cup fixtures – introduced Tyrese Fornah into the fold.
Garner’s arrival means that Forest fans are no longer subjected to the pairing of Colback and Yates in midfield but improvement could still be found.
The Reds have been linked with moves for several midfield options including Abdou Harroui (Sparta Rotterdam), Matthias Phoutan (Guingamp) and Braian Ojeda (Olimpia).
Forgotten midfielder Harry Arter – who featured in a 0-0 draw for the Under 23s against Southampton but was left out of the young Reds’ squad for a 1-0 loss to Wolves – has been linked with a loan move to Charlton Athletic.
Winger
Out-wide is another area in which Hughton could do with strengthening. In that position currently, the Reds have Alex Mighten, Joe Lolley and Philip Zinckernagel.
Brennan Johnson and Joao Carvalho both prefer to be played centrally but can be deployed interchangeably in a wide position.
An existing injury for Lolley means the Reds are light on cover out wide and could do with some reinforcements.
Nuno Da Costa was involved briefly during pre-season but has also fallen victim to an injury setback; youngster Ateef Konate was brought back into the fold of the Under-23s for their defeat to Wolves on August 27.
Main Photo
