Head coach Steve Cooper says nothing is “imminent” on the transfer front for Nottingham Forest, either incoming or outgoing.
And he admits sanctioning any potential departures is complicated by an injury list which features a number of key players. With the Reds bidding to reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and fighting to preserve their Premier League status, they do not want to leave themselves short of options before new signings arrive.
Defenders Moussa Niakhate (hamstring), Omar Richards (hairline fracture of the leg) and Giulian Biancone (ACL), along with midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate (hamstring) are long-term absentees. Meanwhile, attacker Jesse Lingard is midway through recovering from a hamstring problem which is expected to keep him out for a month, and the club have some other injury doubts ahead of Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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Murphy moves on
Dane Murphy is stepping down as chief executive officer of Nottingham Forest, the club have confirmed.
Murphy joined Forest as CEO in July 2021 after two years in the same role at Championship side Barnsley. Under his day-to-day management, Forest appointed Steve Cooper as head coach and achieved promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs.
The 36-year-old is now leaving to explore new opportunities, it has been confirmed. Forest say he "will be stepping down" from his role, and Murphy released a statement through the club website.
He said: “Never have I been a proponent of, nor in fact, have I ever been any good at goodbyes. It is much easier to give thanks and recognize those who made my time at Forest so special.
Transfer talk
Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson has shot down reports linking his club with Nottingham Forest winger Ateef Konate.
The 21-year-old was said to be the subject of interest from Bristol City, Stoke City and Danish club Odense after slipping down the pecking order at Forest. The combination of promotion heavy summer recruitment dented his hopes of breaking through into the first team under Steve Cooper.
Konate has not played a first team game for Forest this season and made just one Championship appearance last season - deeming him surplus to requirements at the City Ground.
After arriving from Le Havre in 2020, he could be set to leave two years later, with some League One clubs also reportedly interested in the Frenchman.
Injury doubts
Nottingham Forest have “quite a few” injury doubts ahead of Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup tie with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
A place in the semi-finals of the competition is up for grabs at the City Ground (7.45pm kick-off), and the Reds also have a crunch Premier League clash against Leicester City to come on Saturday. But in addition to dealing with a number of long-term absentees, head coach Steve Cooper is sweating on the fitness of other players this week.
Morgan Gibbs-White suffered a recurrence of a calf problem and was not involved in Saturday’s FA Cup defeat at Blackpool, while striker Taiwo Awoniyi was also absent after being forced off with a groin issue in the midweek victory over Southampton. Defender Neco Williams was in the starting XI at Bloomfield Road but was substituted late on after taking a blow to the nose.
Omar Richards (hairline fracture of the leg), Giulian Biancone (ACL), Moussa Niakhate and Cheikhou Kouyate (both hamstring) remain sidelined, while Jesse Lingard is midway through his recovery and expected to be missing for a month with a hamstring injury.
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