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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Sarah Clapson

The deals Nottingham Forest are trying to complete before transfer deadline

It has already been a busy January transfer window for Nottingham Forest, as boss Steve Cooper has made the most of his first chance to put his stamp on the squad.

But further deals could still be done before tonight’s 11pm deadline, both in terms of incomings and outgoings.

The Reds were keen to get much of their work done early, when it came to new additions - and they managed to bring in Keinan Davis, Steve Cook and Richie Laryea in the first few days of the month.

They have not yet brought anyone else in beyond that, although others have headed in the opposite direction.

Jordi Osei-Tutu has returned to parent club Arsenal, while Jayden Richardson, Tyrese Fornah, Carl Jenkinson and Lyle Taylor have gone out on loan, and Joao Carvalho and youngster Jordan Wright have made permanent moves.

Given a promotion push is the aim for Forest in the second half of the season, this has been an important window for the club.

They have been keen to bring in players who can make a difference, as well as trim the dressing room by allowing those who have been struggling for game time to move on.

Further bolstering their attacking options before the cut-off point was always the aim - and that has only take on greater priority following an ankle injury to Lewis Grabban in the 2-1 defeat at Cardiff City.

The Reds have been targeting wide reinforcements this month. Millwall’s Jed Wallace and Blackpool’s Josh Bowler have long been on their radar, and multiple offers have been made.

They are tough ones to get done, though, not least because the teams involved are reluctant to sell to a Championship rival, while Wallace has also been injured.

Cooper had previously dropped a hint that another striker could be a possibility, having allowed Taylor to join Birmingham City.

“We’d have Lewis (Grabban) and Keinan, and Xande (Silva), and Julian Larsson was in the squad today as well, although obviously he didn’t get changed,” the Welshman said after Tuesday night’s 3-0 win over Barnsley. “There’s a bit more of the transfer window to go as well.”

Even if another forward hadn't been on the agenda before, it may well be now.

Grabban had to be helped off the pitch in South Wales and was unable to put any weight on his foot. It didn't look good.

Forest will await the result of a scan. But if it's looking like he faces any length of time out, the club must weigh up whether to act.

Still, it is unlikely there will be a flurry of arrivals over the next few hours. But there could be at least one more departure.

The Reds will hope they have made their stance clear over Brennan Johnson, having rejected what would have been a club record fee from Brentford.

It remains to be seen whether the waters are tested again, but the message from Forest has been that they are not looking to sell this month. Cooper reiterated that on Sunday night.

He also said of potential exits: "Only players that we would be okay with moving on. But in terms of the ones that we're building the team with, then, no."

The club have been in discussions with Harry Arter about his future since he returned early from a loan spell at Charlton Athletic.

The midfielder is not part of the first-team set-up and will be allowed to move on.

Defenders Tobias Figueiredo and Mohamed Drager have also been linked with moves.

The former is out of contract in the summer and is understood to be a loan target for Vitoria, while Drager is reportedly on the radar of Esperance Sportive de Tunis, Caen, Saint-Etienne, Rijeka and Standard Liege.

What happens with Figueiredo, though, could be dependent on how severe the calf problem suffered by Steve Cook on Sunday is.

What business would you like to see on deadline day? Have your say in the comments below

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