Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper says questions need to be asked of over how midfielder Lewis O’Brien has been left in limbo after his failed move to Blackburn Rovers.
O’Brien was set to join the Championship side on loan for the rest of the season, in a deal which would also include a purchase clause should promotion be achieved. However, the move collapsed due to an issue over the timing of the paperwork being filed before Tuesday’s 11pm deadline.
It meant the switch was not approved by the English Football League, although Rovers are appealing the decision. Meanwhile, O’Brien has been left out of the Reds’ 25-man Premier League squad for the second half of the campaign, leaving him to face an uncertain future. If Blackburn fail in their appeal, the 24-year-old would have to join a club in a country whose transfer window remains open, if he wants game time in the coming months.
READ MORE: Forest squad decision explained as Omar Richards update provided
READ MORE: Leeds United predicted team news as two miss out against Forest
Injury update
Nottingham Forest hope to have midfielder Ryan Yates available again in a couple of weeks’ time, but the situation around Jesse Lingard is less clear.
Yates missed both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester United, having been forced off midway in the 1-1 draw at Bournemouth. He had also been substituted the week before that clash with the Cherries, having taken a whack to the face against Leicester City.
Lingard, meanwhile, was due to make his first start since recovering from a hamstring problem at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. But he injured his Achille during the warm-up and was replaced by Emmanuel Dennis in the XI.
“It’s frustrating for Jesse. With it only being Friday today and it happening on Wednesday, it’s still settling down, so we’re not quite sure of the extent of it,” said head coach Steve Cooper.
Navas' verdict
Keylor Navas was Nottingham Forest's most high profile signing this season after joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain until the end of the season.
The Costa Rica international was the Reds' third deadline day transfer, with Steve Cooper keen to reinforce his goalkeeping department following the injury to Dean Henderson. Alongside Navas, Forest recruited Gustavo Scarpa, Danilo, Chris Wood, Felipe, and Jonjo Shelvey in the transfer window before Andre Ayew arrived on a free transfer.
Navas will add further experience to Cooper's side, having also played for the likes of Real Madrid, where he made over 100 league appearances and won three Champions League titles.
On the move: "I feel very happy to be given this opportunity. It really is a big opportunity to come to Nottingham and I know I'm going to enjoy it. It's a club with a good plan underway, with some great players here already.
On the move
Nottingham Forest striker Hwang Ui-jo is set to sign for a new club on loan.
That is according to journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos, who claims Hwang is set to return to his native South Korea and sign for FC Seoul, though the length of the deal is yet to be disclosed. Hwang had spent the first half of the season on loan at Olympiacos but has seen his minutes reduced significantly in recent months.
The 30-year-old was a regular during the early weeks of the season but has made just one appearance since the beginning of November, which came in the cup on January 11. His last league outing was a six-minute cameo off the bench in a 2-1 home defeat to PAOK, with Hwang having been left out of every league squad since.
Hwang only joined Forest from Bordeaux in the summer for a fee in the region of €4m, but he is yet to make his debut for the club after being immediately loaned out. His contract at the City Ground runs until 2025 but it is difficult to see him coming in to make an impact with the options Steve Cooper has at his disposal ahead of him.
What are you thoughts on Forest's January transfer business? Have your say in the comments below
READ NEXT
