As the end of the season nears, a big summer is looming for Nottingham Forest - regardless of which division they find themselves in next term.
The Reds face a crucial game on Wednesday night as they host Brighton and Hove Albion at the City Ground. A battling performance in Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Liverpool boosted hopes they can avoid the drop, but they desperately need to end an 11-match winless run.
Amid their fight for survival, Forest's recruitment has come under scrutiny. The 29 players brought in during the last two transfer windows have had varying degrees of impact.
READ MORE: Forest predicted XI as Cooper faces Brighton dilemma
READ MORE: When every Forest player's contract is due to expire
That has led to changes taking place behind the scenes, with sporting director Filippo Giraldi axed and replaced by chief football officer Ross Wilson. Chief executive Dane Murphy left in January, while recruitment chiefs George Syrianos and Andy Scott were sacked in October.
The summer will be Wilson's first chance to have an impact on transfer business - with much riding on getting it right. Whether Forest are planning for another year in the Premier League or have to put together a squad capable of a promotion push in the Championship, the upcoming transfer window is likely to see ins and outs. With a key few months ahead, we've taken a look at some players who you might have forgotten are still on the books at the club.
Harry Arter
The midfielder has not been part of the first-team set-up for some time. His last appearance in the Garibaldi was in January 2021, when he was in the starting XI for an FA Cup victory over Cardiff City.
He had loan spells at Charlton Athletic and Notts County last season. But while the club would be keen to get him off the books, a permanent move is yet to arise.
Promotion to the top-flight triggered a contract extension as part of the deal the 32-year-old penned when he made the move Trentside in 2020. Arter had been due to become a free agent in 2023, but that will now happen 12 months later.
Mohamed Drager
There's every chance the right-back will become part of a select group whose time at Forest ends without making an appearance for the club. Being an unused substitute in a 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion in November 2021 is the closest he's been to getting on the pitch - and it's difficult to see that changing.
Drager went on to join FC Luzern on loan, just a few months after he had signed for the Reds from Olympiacos. And with his opportunities looking limited at his parent club this season, he linked up with the Swiss outfit again.
They have the option to make his move a permanent one in the summer. But even if they decide not to take it up, the defender's involvement with Tunisia at last year's World Cup could have put him in the shop window.
Braian Ojeda
As with Drager, the midfielder joined Forest on deadline day in August 2021. It took him a while to get up to speed and he featured just three times last term.
Adapting to English football proved tough, and with Cooper sticking with a pretty settled side, the Paraguayan struggled to force his way into contention. It came as little surprise when a loan move materialised last summer.
The 22-year-old linked up with MLS outfit Real Salt Lake. He penned a four-year deal when he made the move to the City Ground. It seems unlikely he will see that through, though, with Real Salt Lake holding an option to make his switch permanent.
Hwang Ui-jo
Likely to fall into the Drager category of moving on without ever pulling on the Garibaldi. Indeed, fans could be forgiven for not realising Forest had signed him in the first place.
The striker penned a three-year contract when he joined last summer, then immediately went on loan to fellow Evangelos Marinakis-owned side Olympiacos. Having struggled to make an impact in Greece, that spell was then terminated early.
Having already featured for former club Bordeaux and Olympiacos this season, his options for another move were limited. He linked up with FC Seoul on a loan until the end of the campaign.
Should any of these players get a chance next season? Have your say in the comments below
READ NEXT
