With less than a week of the transfer window remaining, Nottingham Forest have already done some encouraging business.
Gustavo Scarpa on a free transfer looks to be a very good deal, fellow Brazilian Danilo is a fantastic prospect and loanee Chris Wood offers a different option up front, along with providing plenty of valuable experience. But putting the right finishing touches to the squad will be key as the Reds aim to continue making progress in the second half of the season.
Ending the month with sufficient strength in depth across the pitch is the goal. Wednesday night’s defeat to Manchester United showed Forest are not quite there yet.
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Admittedly, Wood was ineligible to feature, Taiwo Awoniyi is sidelined and Jesse Lingard was making his comeback from a hamstring problem, but with Sam Surridge, Brennan Johnson and Morgan Gibbs-White included in the starting XI, attacking options on the bench were limited. And when Emmanuel Dennis did come on, he didn’t exactly make a case for himself to merit being given more minutes.
In an ideal world, the Reds would end January in a better position on the injury front. There is no doubt they have been hit hard by the number of absentees - and long-term ones at that.
The best-case scenario would involve having Awoniyi, Dean Henderson, Moussa Niakhate, Omar Richards and Cheikhou Kouyate available in the near future, while the hope will be Gibbs-White’s ankle problem isn’t anything serious and Ryan Yates quickly recovers from a suspected virus.
The reality, though, is Forest need to take the number of players in the treatment room into account when plotting their final few deals. Head coach Steve Cooper has been coy over how many more signings to expect, but given the positive strides the group has made, there is no need for any last-minute panic buying.
Between now and next Tuesday’s 11pm deadline, sorting out the goalkeeping position must be a priority. Although Cooper has said the club are still weighing up whether to dip into the market, pursuing cover for Henderson seems likely, with PSG's Keylor Navas on their radar. There is plenty of time before the Reds’ next league game, against Leeds United on Sunday week, but still, the sooner something gets done, the better.
Beyond that, adding a centre-back and further strengthening their attacking options would make for a good window at the City Ground. For an even better one, moving on Harry Arter, Lyle Taylor and Cafu, who have not been part of the 25-man squad, would help ease pressure on the wage bill, while others may also need to be let go, to free up space for any incomings.
When it comes to new additions, Cooper stresses the importance of getting the right characters in, as much as players with the necessary quality. He places much emphasis on doing due diligence on any potential arrivals. The influence Scarpa has already had, bonding with his teammates over a Rubik's Cube, is a case in point.
There is a good balance and a great spirit in the dressing room at present. Forest's dream window involves ensuring that remains the case, while also bolstering their resources to boost their survival mission.
What transfer business should Forest do before the window closes? Have your say in the comments below
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