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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Ste McGovern

Nottingham Forest tipped for striker reunion as four transfers mooted

Steve Cooper "hopes" that Nottingham Forest are able to make even more additions to the squad with the January transfer window now open for business.

The club broke the record for the most signings ever made in a single window during the summer, but improvements still need to be made if they are to have a chance of staying in the Premier League.

Transfer rumours will only thicken as the month goes on and there's already a lot of talk about who the Reds might sign in the coming weeks. Two clubs are believed to be interested in signing striker Emmanuel Dennis, which will inevitably lead to replacements being linked with a move to the City Ground.

READ MORE: Nottingham Forest in transfer talks with two clubs ahead of early exit

SEE ALSO: Steve Cooper makes Nottingham Forest transfer admission as January signings plotted

Bookmakers SkyBet believe that Forest are in the running to sign four attacking players who play in either the Premier League or Championship, although some are more outlandish than others. Here are the odds:

Ben Brereton Diaz - 10/1

Chilean cult hero Ben Brereton Diaz has been linked with a move to the Premier League for a few windows now and, with his contract at Blackburn Rovers running out in the summer, he will have plenty of suitors itching to get him. Forest could have a key advantage, though, if they make a concerted effort to get him.

The striker is, of course, a former Red who started out his career at the club. He left for Ewood Park for good in 2019, but it wasn't until last season that he really proved his quality, becoming an international calibre forward while banging in 22 goals in the Championship in 2021/22.

Southampton are the frontrunners at 9/1, but Forest aren't far behind at all at 10/1, as are Everton. This would be the most realistic of the four deals the bookies are offering odds on.

Ismaila Sarr 14/1

It was a surprise last summer when Ismaila Sarr was still at Vicarage Road after the transfer window closed. Watford had been relegated to the Championship and this was clearly a player who could cut it in the top flight.

Aston Villa (8/1) and Leeds United (12/1) were keen at the time and remain so by all accounts. It wouldn't be far fetched for Forest to sign him, but a number clubs are interested in him, including Tottenham (10/1) and West Ham (12/1). The Senegalese international also may not be interested in joining a club that is in danger of going down, having suffered two relegations in his time at Watford already.

Wilfried Zaha - 33/1

Crystal Palace have somehow managed to hold onto Wilf Zaha for all these years, but it looks like his time at Selhurst Park has to end sometime or another. His current deal expires in 2023 and the club need to decide whether to sell him now, or lose him for nothing in the summer.

Forest are rank outsiders to sign him at 33/1, with Chelsea (6/1), Arsenal (8/1), Liverpool (10/1) and Newcastle (12/1) heading up the list of potential destinations. But they've shocked everyone in the market before, maybe they could again.

Philippe Coutinho - 33/1

There are an infinitesimally small number of possible worlds where Champions League winner Philippe Coutinho rocks up to the City Ground to sign on the dotted line less than a year after joining Aston Villa. At the moment the two most likely destinations for him this January are Corinthians (7/2) or a team in Major League Soccer (14/1). Kind of says it all.

The problem with poor old Phil is that it's not clear where his place is, whether you're talking about the Villa XI or a future club. He may just have to sit tight for a while unless he cuts his losses and goes back to Brazil.

Odds correct as of time of writing.

What do you think? Drop us a comments!

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