Nottingham Forest fans will be one of the more relaxed Premier League fan bases about the January transfer window, with no glaring issues needing to be addressed by Evangelos Marinakis.
With Forest unlikely to sell Morgan Gibbs-White in January, Nuno Espirito can rest easy about the status of his star players and look to plug any potential gaps in his Forest squad.
Espirito Santo has guided his Forest side to third in the Premier League table at the halfway mark, leading to Forest offering Chris Wood and Gibbs-White new contracts to keep the current crop of stars at the club.
If Forest are to do business in January, left-back has been one area that Espirito Santo’s side have considered, with Pervis Estupinan linked to Forest as a potential alternative to extending Alex Moreno’s spell at the club.
However, a recent report has suggested that three other positions are seen as the areas that could be improved at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest to prioritise three positions in January
According to a Sky Sports report, Nottingham Forest are set to target a striker, a winger and a left-sided centre-back in the January transfer window.
The report said: “They [Forest] wanted to sign a striker in the summer and that remains the case. […] They are also said to be looking into further depth on the wing and a left-footed centre-back – and Forest have shown they will be ambitious in the market, not afraid to go for well-known names.”
Clearly, the striker would be a backup to Wood, with Evan Ferguson linked with Forest amongst plenty of other potential forward options.
A wide player would also be targeted to provide competition for Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi, making Forest’s links with Raul Moro seem a possibility.
However, the potential link to a left-footed centre-back is more complex and could present a concerning prospect when considering the talent Forest already have in that area.
Nottingham Forest already have Murillo as a left-footed defender
If Forest are to target a left-footed centre-back, concerns for the Forest fans will immediately turn to the future of Murillo, given the interest shown in him from some of Europe’s elite clubs.
Real Madrid have scouted Murillo this season, leading to Forest demanding £80m for Murillo if the Champions League holders are to make more of a concrete approach for the Brazilian.
It would take a special offer for Murillo to leave Forest in the January window so Espirito Santo shouldn’t worry too much about immediately losing his star defender.
However, if the club are looking at a left-sided defender, the possibility that they are preparing for Murillo’s departure will feel more real to Forest fans.
🚨REPORT: The three signings Nottingham Forest are trying to make this January as Evangelos Marinakis means business
