Nottingham Forest will sign at least two players in the January transfer window, owner Evangelos Marinakis has revealed.
The Reds have already announced the arrival of Brazilian midfielder Gustavo Scarpa ahead of the transfer window opening in the new year and the winter recruitment will not be ending there for the Reds.
Head coach Steve Cooper will have a minimum of two new faces, in addition to Scarpa, come the end of next month as Forest look to boost their hopes of avoiding relegation from the Premier League.
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Exit 'imminent'
Loïc Bade was recalled from his loan at Nottingham Forest during the international break and will 'imminently' sign for Sevilla, according to a report.
The 22-year-old joined Forest on loan from French club Rennes during the summer transfer window, but did not play a single competitive minute under head coach Steve Cooper.
According to French newspaper L'Equipe, via Get French Football News, he has returned to Rennes during the World Cup break and is set to join a new club - his third of the season.
They say he will "imminently" join Spanish side Sevilla, a seemingly bizarre move for a player who has not been able to get a look-in at both Rennes and Forest.
Midfielder stance
Salernitana are said to have reiterated their stance over Nottingham Forest-linked midfielder Lassana Coulibaly.
Reports in Italy suggested the Reds had put forward a £7 million bid for the 26-year-old earlier this month, ahead of the January transfer window. Salernitana sporting director Morgan De Sanctis and the club’s hierarchy were said to be “not tempted” by the offer - and it seems they are prepared to stand firm in their attempts to retain his services.
Italian media outlet Le Cronache states Coulibaly “is insistently followed” by Forest. But they add chief executive Danilo Iervolino “has no intention of giving up” one of the team’s “jewels”.
However, if a swoop for the Mali international does not come off next month, a door has potentially been opened for the Reds further down the line. Iervolino, it is said, “has postponed any discussion until next July”. A lack of suitable replacements had previously been identified as a potential stumbling block to any deal - a situation which might have changed come the summer.
Kouyate replacement?
Nottingham Forest reportedly 'admire' Bournemouth's Jefferson Lerma as the club could target a midfielder to replace the injured Cheikhou Kouyate during the January transfer window.
Kouyate, 32, tore a hamstring while playing in Senegal's opening group game at the World Cup against the Netherlands and is now expected to be sidelined for three months while it heals. The defensive midfielder has made 13 appearances for the Reds this season since signing on a free transfer during the summer after leaving Crystal Palace at the end of last season.
Forest still have several options in central areas, including other summer signings Remo Freuler, Orel Mangala and Lewis O'Brien, as well as Ryan Yates, Reds Fans’ Player of the Year. A more defensive-minded replacement may now be sought, though, with only Jack Colback currently a specialist in that position, and he himself has been restricted to just five appearances so far this season due to a combination of injury and illness.
Lerma, 28, would certainly fit this bill to a tee. The Colombia international has been ever-present for the Cherries so far this season following their promotion back to the Premier League.
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