Almost a week on, the dust has settled on Nottingham Forest’s January transfer window.
The Reds brought in seven new additions, with Felipe, Jonjo Shelvey and Keylor Navas signing on deadline day, followed by free agent Andre Ayew shortly after. Gustavo Scarpa, Danilo and Chris Wood had already linked up with Steve Cooper’s side.
Heading in the opposite direction, a number of loan moves were secured. We take a look at some of the winners and losers from Forest’s winter business.
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Winners
Keylor Navas: The goalkeeper was keen to make the switch to the City Ground, and he did so knowing he was going to be playing games again - something he had not had at parent club PSG this season. He posted on social media after his debut on Sunday: “Very happy to enjoy playing again!”
What happens when Dean Henderson returns to fitness remains to be seen. But, in the meantime, Forest could significantly benefit from having him on board.
The three-times Champions League winner showed his class as he kept a clean-sheet against Leeds United. And Cooper was also impressed by his game-management, as well as his winning mentality. It is a move which suited all parties.
Renan Lodi: The left-back has really hit his stride of late. He had a tough start following his summer move on loan from Atletico Madrid and took time to settle.
He has started to show what he is capable of, though, and has become one of the first names on the team-sheet. And he will no doubt be helped by the arrival of some of his countrymen during the January window.
Having fellow Brazilians Scarpa, Danilo and Felipe, who he also knows from Atletico, in the dressing room should make him feel even more at home. That might also have a bearing on what happens in the summer, with the Reds holding an option to make Lodi’s deal a permanent one.
Loic Mbe Soh: Getting a look-in was proving tough for the defender. As has been the case since he put pen to paper Trentside in 2020.
He has featured just three times in the Garibaldi this term, and has played only 13 times in total for the club. At 21, he was desperately in need of game time.
He came close to heading elsewhere in the summer, only to then find himself watching from the sidelines again. Securing a loan move to Guingamp last month was just what he needed, and he has made three appearances so far.
Losers
Steve Cook: Few players can have made such a big impression in such a short amount of time as the centre-back. Whatever happens in the future, he will go down as a Forest hero for the key part he played in helping the club get back to the top-flight.
There was interest in him during the window, but having stayed put, last year’s January signing now finds himself out of the 25-man Premier League squad. The arrival of Felipe would have pushed him down the pecking order, and with space needed to be made to accommodate the new signings, Cook was the most notable casualty.
Lewis O’Brien: It’s difficult not to feel sorry for the midfielder, who is currently in limbo. Like Cook, he was also not included in the 25-man squad, following the collapse of his deadline day switch to Blackburn Rovers.
The Championship side are set to appeal the decision. But should they fail - and the club are not confident of succeeding - O’Brien faces the prospect of no competitive football for the next few months.
He had mostly been used as a substitute prior to the window opening. Forest bringing in Danilo and Shelvey has only added to the competition for places in the centre of the pitch, with Scarpa also able to play a deeper role.
Wayne Hennessey: If the Welshman thought Henderson’s injury presented an opportunity to get some minutes, that notion was quashed by the arrival of Navas. After a few run-outs, Hennessey has reverted to being back-up stopper.
He is almost certain to drop further down the pecking order when Henderson recovers from his thigh problem. The decision to bring in goalkeeping cover raised doubts among some, but Navas’ performance on Sunday more than justified Forest’s call.
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