The end of the transfer window is fast approaching, but there are plenty of question marks over what might happen at Nottingham Forest before then.
The biggest uncertainty surrounds prized asset Brennan Johnson, who is a wanted man ahead of Monday’s deadline.
There are no shortage of Premier League suitors chasing his signature, not least Brentford, who have held an interest since the summer.
It comes as Steve Cooper’s side recorded a third successive league win on Tuesday night, beating Barnsley 3-0 to move within one point of the top six.
Reds reporter Sarah Clapson joined Matt Davies to discuss the latest goings-on in a live Q&A on our Forest Facebook page.
Q: What’s the situation with Brennan Johnson?
A: Brentford have again shown their interest. They’ve never really gone away.
They are one of many clubs who are keen on him, which is no surprise because he’s been having a great season, on the back of last year’s loan spell at Lincoln City.
There’s no shortage of interest, but Brentford are the ones who are really sniffing around at the moment. Forest are certainly having their resolve tested by them.
If the deal that Brentford have put forward were to go through, it would be a club record one for both teams - a heck of a lot of money.
It puts Forest in a very difficult position, with a huge decision to make.
If I were them, I’d be doing everything possible to keep Johnson. If you’re challenging for promotion, like Forest are, you need to be keeping players like him - your best players.
He’s a game-changer. He can make the difference when it comes to chasing a place in the top six.
With the way he’s been playing, he can have an effect on where Forest finish in the table. For me, it’s worth turning down any kind of money for that.
But that’s easier said than done when somebody puts a huge offer on the table. The club will look at that money and think about what they could potentially do with it.
His value has gone up hugely since the summer.
It’s a difficult position, but that has to be offset by the influence Johnson has and the momentum Forest currently have with him in the team.
Forest are on a roll at the moment. They’ve got a great team spirit and Steve Cooper is really building a certain culture there. Risking disrupting that by losing your best player could have big consequences.
Q: How would Forest replace Johnson if he does go, especially if other clubs know they’ve suddenly got a lot of money?
A: He would be really difficult to replace, there’s no getting away from that.
And if you’re trying to make signings on the back of a club record sale, other teams are going to try to take advantage by putting their asking price up for any targets.
It would have a knock-on effect.
Forest have been careful in how they’ve approached this window. But it’s the same at any club for any player, everyone has a price.
Forest have been looking at attacking players, in the likes of Jed Wallace and Josh Bowler. They are not exactly the same as Johnson, but it’s always going to be difficult to find that.
If he does go, Forest would need to replace the attacking threat and goals that he brings, though.
They have been targeting players who could do that, so they wouldn’t be completely adrift if he does move on. Having said that, the Bowler and Wallace deals have been proving difficult to do.
Q: How tricky is the situation Forest find themselves in, given Johnson’s value could decrease in the summer when he has just a year left on his contract?
A: If Johnson is still at the club in the summer, then his value would be completely different with 12 months left on his deal.
But if Forest manage to get into the top six and achieve promotion in that time, then that changes everything.
That’s the balance they have to strike. That’s the risk they’re having to deal with, and the gamble they face. Sell for a lot of money now, but potentially hinder your promotion chances. Or wait and see what happens come the summer, knowing, if you don’t go up and sell then, he could be worth less.
Personally, I’d say it’s worth the risk of possibly losing a few million from his price tag for the boost it would give to Forest’s promotion chances to keep him at the club.
Having the chance of making the top six outweighs any of that, for me, because Johnson can be the difference.
Q: What’s the situation with Lyle Taylor?
A: He’s about to head out on a loan move. He’s not had much game time this season, and he is desperate to play.
He’s been struggling to get into the first XI at Forest. Lewis Grabban is first choice, and has been banging in the goals. And Keinan Davis has come in as well.
Davis has been starting games, too, and has been doing well. He got his first goal on Tuesday night, which should boost his confidence. He looks a good addition.
Steve Cooper did drop a hint that there might be other business done before the window closes to counteract Taylor leaving, because Forest would be left with Grabban and Davis as the out-and-out strikers at the club.
The manager has always said he wouldn’t stand in the way of players who wanted to head elsewhere to get more regular game time.
He doesn’t want players who he wants to keep to leave, but some fringe players - like Taylor - will be allowed to move on before the window closes.
There will probably be a few departures like that in the next few days.
Q: What did you make of the win over Barnsley?
A: The manager wasn’t happy at all. He made that very clear in his post-match interview.
He was pleased with the result, and pleased to get a third consecutive league win.
But he wasn’t happy with the performance.
He wants Forest to be better than that. He wants their standards to be higher.
Forest were really good in the first half. They were well in control. The one gripe would be that they didn’t get more goals - there was an opportunity to really go for the jugular.
Second half, they were sloppy. They really struggled to get going, and they let Barnsley back into the game, in terms of letting them have more of the ball.
Steve Cooper wasn’t happy with that. He’s really keen to see a full 90-minute performance from his team.
His reaction shows where Forest are at the moment - they are aiming high and trying to set higher standards than they have been doing.
If you’re going to break into the play-off places, that’s what you need to do.
