Ending January with sufficient strength in depth across the pitch is the priority for Nottingham Forest as they enter the final hours of the transfer window.
The Reds have until 11pm this evening to complete any further business. And they are expected to oversee ins and outs before the window comes to a close.
A substantial injury list - which now includes Morgan Gibbs-White, Dean Henderson and Taiwo Awoniyi - has had a significant impact on the club’s transfer plans. By close of play, the ideal scenario for Forest is that the squad has been strengthened while key absentees are also covered for.
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Asked about the balance between short and long-term planning this month, head coach Steve Cooper said ahead of today’s deadline: "You always have to do both of those things. Because of the injuries, there's definitely some here and now stuff which has arisen. We can't shy away from that.
"But, as a club, I'm sure they always want to try to put money where they think players can become assets for the club. I don't know too much about that, but there's always a short and long-term feeling on any player - not just ones you've signed, but who might be here already that you've got to take into account.
"I've just got to think about the players who come in every day, prepare as best we can for the next game and commit to that.”
The Reds have had to weigh up whether to target another goalkeeper, following an injury to Henderson which is likely to sideline him for between four to five weeks. They have been targeting PSG’s Keylor Navas, but completing a deal is not proving straightforward.
"We're at a stage in the window now where time is ticking and it's not been ideal with Dean and Taiwo getting injured and one or two other things. But if we feel that those players need replacing, we've looked at that,” Cooper said on the possibility of bringing in another shot-stopper.
"Wanting to do something and doing something can be two different things. Anything can happen.”
Bolstering their centre-back ranks has been a priority for Forest all month. Atletico Madrid’s Felipe looks set to solve that particular problem, although there has been competition for his signature from elsewhere. Meanwhile, midfielder Jonjo Shelvey underwent a medical yesterday, with a view to completing a move from Newcastle United.
As he looks to keep his team out of relegation danger, another attacking addition could also prove useful for Cooper. Santos’ teenage winger Angelo Gabriel has been linked, along with FC Cincinnati forward Brenner.
An ideal deadline day is also likely to include some departures. Forest were already over the limit of their 25-man Premier League squad for the first half of the season, with Cafu, Lyle Taylor and Harry Arter being left off the list.
The trio would be free to leave, if moves materialise before the window closes, but others will also have to make way for any incomings. Summer signings Lewis O’Brien and Harry Toffolo look set to be among those who move on, but much will depend on who comes through the door.
It took time for Cooper’s squad to gel, following the summer overhaul which saw 22 signings made. But the Welshman says the scenario is completely different for integrating new players this time around.
“You’ve got to be careful you don’t compare both windows, because they are very different times of the season,” he said. “We’re in a better place now than what we were in the summer, in terms of cohesion amongst the squad. Alongside that was the club getting back into the Premier League again, and us feeling the surroundings which go with that.
“We’re at a completely different stage now to then. We’ve got to live in the moment we’re in now, look at what we think it takes to improve the team and the squad, and try to do that.
“If not, we carry on working away. We’ve done okay with results recently - not where we want to be in the league, but we have been in a worse position. We’ve got to work even harder to try to improve that, while dealing with the games as they come and the challenges of injuries. We’ve got to stay really motivated, enjoy our work, enjoy each other’s company and really commit to the next game.”
Injuries will still have an impact on Cooper’s team selection. But Forest could end the window potentially being able to field an XI of: Navas; Aurier, Felipe, Boly, Lodi; Shelvey, Danilo, Scarpa; Lingard; Wood, Johnson. Add the sidelined players to the mix, and the Reds boss would have plenty of options.
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