Head coach Steve Cooper says Nottingham Forest “will improve any area” if the right opportunities arise during the transfer window.
Twenty-two players came through the City Ground doors in the summer as the club prepared for life in the Premier League. However, the Reds have been hit hard by injuries since then, and they also acknowledge improvements are needed to aid their bid for survival.
Free agent Gustavo Scarpa is available to make his debut at Southampton on Wednesday night, having been ineligible to feature against Chelsea after linking up with the squad last month. Further additions are expected, though, with Forest understood to be looking to bolster their options at centre-back, in midfield and in attack.
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Exit confirmed
Nottingham Forest have terminated defender Loic Bade’s loan deal, by mutual agreement with Rennes.
The 22-year-old signed for the Reds from the French outfit on deadline day in the summer, on a season-long loan with an option - said to be worth £12million - to make the move permanent. However, he struggled to force his way into boss Steve Cooper ’s plans and departs without making a single appearance in the Garibaldi.
Last week, Sevilla announced an agreement in principle to sign Bade on loan for the rest of the campaign. As with Forest’s, that deal also includes an option to sign him on a permanent basis.
The Frenchman got minutes in friendlies against Stoke City and Valencia during the World Cup break. But his lack of competitive action for the Reds will now allow him to represent Sevilla; he had already featured for Rennes in August, and players are permitted to play for only two teams in one season.
'Proposals' received
Nottingham Forest have "received two proposals" for striker Emmanuel Dennis, according to a report.
The striker, who joined Forest from Watford for £15million in the summer, has been made available for a transfer during the current transfer window, after just five months at the City Ground.
According to The Athletic, two unnamed clubs in the United States and Saudi Arabia have held verbal discussions with Forest over signing the striker. The Stateside club wants a loan with an obligation to buy, while the terms from a club in Saudi are as yet unclear. No formal offers have been made thus far.
It is said that Forest would be looking to make a profit on the £15million figure they paid for Dennis in the summer, despite the striker having only made three Premier League starts this season.
Surridge speculation
Nottingham Forest are reported to be ready to listen to offers for striker Sam Surridge amid interest from Championship leaders Burnley.
Vincent Kompany is understood to be “keen” on the 24-year-old and a loan deal is also an option for the front man, who joined the City Ground last January, netting seven times in the league to help the Reds gain promotion back to the Premier League.
However, although the former Stoke City player has featured in ten top flight games so far this term, he’s yet to score. Used as a regular from the bench and mainly as a late impact player, Surridge has often been sent on in the final few minutes of matches. But the Clarets, who are currently five points clear at the top of the Championship, are looking to boost their automatic promotion push with an extra, proven goal scorer at the level.
The Sun’s transfer specialist Alan Nixon said: “Burnley are keen to sign striker Sam Surridge from Nottingham Forest for their promotion push.
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