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.
