Nottingham Forest now have less than a month to go before the winter transfer window opens for business.
The Reds have some big games to come before then amid a busy December fixture schedule. But although head coach Nuno Espirito Santo insists he is not yet thinking about January plans, plenty of work is already going on behind the scenes.
As the new year draws closer and transfer gossip begins to gather pace, we take a look at the current state of play at the City Ground. Below is our stock take on the unresolved issues surrounding the players still on the books.
Contract calls
January can often be decision time where players whose contracts are due to expire in the summer are concerned. Should they wish to, it is the last chance for the club to cash in rather than risk seeing those players walk away for nothing at the end of the campaign.
The alternative is to offer fresh terms, and Forest have been in talks with Chris Wood and Ola Aina about doing just that. The signs are positive that an agreement can be reached with both, but getting them tied down sooner rather than later will be key.
As for other players coming to the end of their deals, so far there has been no indication the Reds will look to extend their stays. Willy Boly’s contract includes an option for Forest to retain him for an additional 12 months but he has been linked with a switch to Saudi Arabia. Harry Toffolo and Jonathan Panzo (currently on loan at Rio Ave) will also become free agents in 2025 and it would be no surprise if both move on.
Potential exits
Thanks to some excellent work done in the summer, the Reds do not need to do too much business in January. Courtesy of smart recruitment, they already have a strong squad in place. And equally as important, they have very little deadwood remaining after overseeing a chunk of departures.
Emmanuel Dennis was the only senior player left out of the 25-man squad. He is someone Forest will certainly look to move on next month, if they can. Rumours of possible destinations have been thin on the ground so far, though.
Meanwhile, the Reds will no doubt weigh up whether a loan spell might suit Eric da Silva Moreira. The 18-year-old is viewed as a youngster with plenty of potential but minutes have been hard to come by since his summer move to the City Ground. It might be that securing regular game time elsewhere for the second half of the campaign is best for his development.
Finding form and fitness
Come the new year, Nuno will hope long-term absentees Danilo (broken ankle) and Ibrahim Sangare (hamstring) might be back involved to some degree. The former is further along in his recovery than his teammate and has joined in non-contact training but remains some way off being back out on the pitch.
The Forest head coach has been reluctant to put a date on when the pair might return and will tread very carefully with both of them. Whenever they do make their comebacks, though, Nuno will have some big decisions to make in midfield, as it is an area where he has a fair few options.
It will take time for Danilo and Sangare to find fitness and sharpness, and that is still proving to be the case for Taiwo Awoniyi. The front man missed a chunk of pre-season and has played limited minutes so far this term, leaving him yet to hit top gear.
Nuno recently admitted Awoniyi is also in need of a confidence boost from a goal. Getting him back to his best is the challenge for the Reds, as he can still have a big part to play in the second half of the campaign, even if another forward is signed in January.
