The pause in the Premier League season provides Nottingham Forest with the chance to reflect as well as the opportunity to look ahead.
And that includes turning attention towards January. Head coach Steve Cooper will hold talks with sporting director Filippo Giraldi during the World Cup break about transfer plans.
Given the Reds made 22 signings in the summer, it will be a significantly quieter window this time around. We take a look at the current state of play.
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Possible incomings
Gustavo Scarpa continues to discuss his impending move to the City Ground. The attacking midfielder is due to link up with Forest in the new year, having signed a pre-contract agreement, and has confirmed he has penned a three-and-a-half-year deal.
Discussing leaving Palmeiras and their fans being upset at his departure, he told Frala, Brasolho! in an interview translated by Sport Witness: “At this moment, I’m working hard to make a dream come true. I know, modesty aside, that I leave Brazil with open doors. That’s what I was looking for from the start when I started negotiating with Nottingham.
“I made it clear what my desire was. And that made the negotiation a lot easier, it made my mental part a lot easier to remain focused on Palmeiras.
“Having been transparent was very big for me. It could have fooled them, the guys could also have messed me up somehow. But we understood each other well.
“And of course I think, obviously, I’m going to the bottom of the table there, I’m going to fight. But I know time doesn’t come back. I know that no matter how much I won at Palmeiras, I would be richer, but I would end my career and say ‘I didn’t have the experience in Europe’. So I’m quite convinced of what I did.”
Any arrivals will have an impact on those players already at the club, given the 25-man squad limit. Giulian Biancone’s season-ending injury opens up a spot which is likely to be taken by Scarpa. Beyond that, further signings would require someone else to make way.
Potential outgoings
Reports in Italy have suggested Loic Bade could be on the move when the window opens. He is on a season-long loan from Rennes - with the Reds holding an option to buy - but is yet to make a single appearance.
Salernitana News relay a report from Il Mattino which claims Bade is on the radar of the Italian outfit’s sporting director, Morgan De Sanctis. Recruiting a central defender in January is said to be a priority for Salernitana.
Meanwhile, Cafu and Lyle Taylor were left out of the 25-man squad when the summer window closed. It would be a surprise if their situation has changed come January, which could result in the duo heading elsewhere if moves can be found.
The same will apply to Harry Arter. He has not been part of the first-team set-up for some time, but finding a possible transfer is easier said than done when he has not been in the shop window.
Defender Loic Mbe Soh’s future Trentside could also be in doubt. He has struggled to force his way into Cooper’s thinking and Fenerbahce have been tipped to reignite their interest after making a late push to sign him in the summer.
Contract decisions
Forest have several players whose deals will come to an end at the end of the campaign. January would be the club’s final opportunity to cash in, if they are considering selling.
Cafu and Taylor are both in that category. Jordan Smith, Jack Colback and Jesse Lingard will also see their contracts expire in 2023, while Serge Aurier’s deal is believed to run until then, too.
For those who Forest are not considering letting go in the winter window, a decision will need to be made at some point over whether to offer fresh terms. If not, those players would be able to walk away for nothing in the summer.
What transfer business should Forest do in January? Have your say in the comments below
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