The January window has not long closed, but the next round of key transfer decisions will soon be just around the corner for Nottingham Forest.
Much of what happens in the summer will depend on which division the Reds find themselves in as they battle to maintain their Premier League status. They are currently six points above the relegation zone with 16 games to play.
Whatever happens between now and May, there are sure to be changes to the City Ground by the end of the season, although it’s unlikely to be as busy as it was last summer. With that in mind, we take a look at some of the big calls Forest will have to make soon.
READ MORE: Referee in Forest’s VAR row center down after last howler
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola publishes an update on Erling Haaland’s injury before the clash with Forest
contract decisions
Several players will see their offers expire in a few months. The club must decide whether to submit new terms or let those players leave.
Given that they haven’t been part of the 25-man Premier League squad in either the first or second half of the season, Lyle Taylor and Cafu are likely to leave. Likewise, Jordan Smith, who went on loan to Huddersfield Town in January and no doubt hopes there’s an opportunity there.
Head coach Steve Cooper has been very coy about the future of Jack Colback and Jesse Lingard, in particular, saying any discussion is on the back burner at the moment. However, he has praised the roles the two continue to play this season.
Serge Aurier has also been a key figure this term, and if the Reds stick with it, it would make sense to tie him to a new deal. The same applies to Renan Lodi, with Forest having an option to make his loan permanent, while Andre Ayew only signed a short-term deal when he joined as a free agent last month.
guardian riddle
The goalkeeper position is one to think about. Cooper will probably have a selection headache to tackle before then, of course, when Dean Henderson returns to fitness: the Manchester United loanee will have a fight on his hands to drive Keylor Navas from between the posts.
Both will return to their respective clubs of origin at the end of the campaign. However, the Reds are said to plan to make Henderson a prime target for the summer.
Even if they can sign him permanently, they would still need to establish a third senior goalkeeper (with Wayne Hennessey tied up until 2024), either by offering Smith a new contract or looking for an alternative.
Ethan Horvath has spent this season on loan at Luton Town because he was interested in regular playing time. And youngster Adnan Kanuric joined Oxford City on loan last month.
loan repayments
There is always some kind of rotation in the summer windows. Forest have a number of players currently on loan who will return to the City Ground at the end of the campaign.
His future will have to be addressed. Decisions will need to be made about whether they can have a role to play at Garibaldi, whether another loan is better or whether the time is right to move on.
Tyrese Fornah, for example, has already indicated that he would be willing to join Reading permanently. Loic Mbe Soh could also fall into that category, having struggled his way through the race. He is spending the second half of this term with Guingamp, with his contract running through 2024.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Josh Bowler, in particular. Having immediately joined the Evangelos Marinakis-owned team Olympiacos after putting pen to paper for the Reds, that spell was broken and he returned to Blackpool.
Forest will not only have to make decisions about the players on loan. Cooper has said the door isn’t closed on Steve Cook after he was cut from the 25-man squad, but there was interest in the defender in January and he will have 12 months left on his contract in the summer, just like the center. -Backs Joe Worrall and Scott McKenna. Meanwhile, midfielder Lewis O’Brien remains in limbo after the collapse of his deadline-day transfer to Blackburn Rovers.
Rekindle interest?
When it comes to possible summer targets, including them, the Reds must weigh whether to revive their interest in Brazilian teenager Angelo Gabriel. Last month there was pressure to sign him, but the attacker stayed at Santos.
However, he apparently has a long list of clubs interested in him. Flamengo, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG, Manchester City and Liverpool have all been linked.
Reports have suggested there is a €60m (approximately £52m) clause in his contract. And it has also been claimed that Barcelona has a first rejection of the 18-year-old.
What summer transfer business should Forest do? Give your opinion in the comments below
READ NEXT