Debutants Jonjo Shelvey and Felipe made positive impressions on Reds head coach Steve Cooper in their first Nottingham Forest appearances.
Defender Felipe’s debut came in unusual circumstances when the Reds were forced to change two centre-backs due to injury after seven minutes of Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Fulham. The deadline day signing and Joe Worrall came on for Scott McKenna and Willy Boly, who both pulled up with hamstring problems at the same time.
Shelvey, meanwhile, was called on before the hour mark at Craven Cottage, having also put pen to paper for the club before the January window closed. The former Newcastle United man, who has recovered from a calf strain, made a difference for the visitors, contributing to a much improved second half.
READ MORE: Forest predicted XI after Cooper's Man City scouting mission
READ MORE: Lewis O'Brien transfer news: Forest man considers options, Rovers await verdict
Transfer battle
Nottingham Forest-linked Jonathan Tah is reportedly wanted by Liverpool and Newcastle.
The 26-year-old was subject of transfer interest in the January transfer window, and the Reds had the Bayer Leverkusen centre-back on their wish list, but he remained in Germany. He is claimed to have found a new agent to represent him, as he strives for a move to the Premier League.
The Germany international has been restricted to regular game time since the arrival of Xabi Alonso and is keen to 'make the leap to a top club.' Tah is claimed to be valued at around £25million.
According to 90min, Forest now face competition from Liverpool and the Magpies, who have both 'held talks over a possible move' for the centre-back. West Ham, meanwhile, are also understood to be admirers of Tah and could make a move to replace Craig Dawson after he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Wood struggles
Chris Wood is yet to make the impact he hoped for at Nottingham Forest after his January move from Newcastle United.
It has been three limited appearances so far from the target man, the latest coming in the 2-0 defeat at Fulham.
Wood was a topic of debate on the latest Garibaldi Red podcast as Matt Davies, Mikey Clarke, Greg Mitchell and former Forest midfielder David Prutton debated his early days at the club. Here is a look at what was said.
He does look like a fish out of water. How much of that is down to confidence and a lack of form, and how much is it Forest not playing to his strengths?
DP: A bit of both. You're looking at a player who can do a job in the Premier League but hasn't had the minutes. If you look at how Forest have played this season and last, it's always been very mobile and interchangeable upfront.
Interest revisited?
Nottingham Forest will ‘try’ to sign Inter Milan midfielder Roberto Gagliardini on a free transfer in the summer, but may have some work to do to convince the player, according to reports in Italy.
The 28-year-old has struggled for game time so far this season, having made just 10 league appearances this campaign. He has just six months remaining on his contract with the Italian giants, meaning that he could be available for nothing when the summer transfer window opens.
Forest were first linked with an interest in Gagliardini back in the January window, with the Reds said to be "seriously considering" a move for the midfielder. Reports in Italy at the time suggested that the player would have preferred to move in the January window, but that transfer never came about.
It means that he will now spend a further six months with Inter, where he has started two of the last four Serie A games. Although he only played one minute of the derby against AC Milan in his last outing.
How should Forest line up against Man City? Have your say in the comments below
READ NEXT
Derby old boy questions Navas move to Forest amid Tottenham question
- The latest Nottingham Forest news in one place
