Nottingham Forest could be set to compete with Everton over Renan Lodi this summer, according to reports in Spain.
After initially taking time to find his feet with the Reds , the full-back has become a key part of Steve Cooper ’s side. The recent addition of fellow Brazilians Felipe, Gustavo Scarpa and Danilo will have also aided his acclimatisation at Forest as the Atletico Madrid loanee continues to make the left-back berth his own.
Lodi has fought off competition from the likes of Neco Willaims and Harry Toffolo to earn his place in the side. Forest have an option to buy Lodi in the summer once his loan spell comes to an end but another Premier League side is claimed to be waiting in the wings, having been impressed by the Brazil international in the top-flight.
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Dawson's worry
Michael Dawson fears that Nottingham Forest could be dragged right back into the relegation battle due to their poor record away from home this season.
The Reds have only won six points on the road this term, the joint-worst in the Premier League alongside West Ham and Leeds United, although their goal difference in away games is much worse; they've only found the next three times while conceding 29 goals. They didn't win an away game until last month when they beat Southampton at St. Mary's on January 4.
In contrast, they have the ninth-best home record in the league with the City Ground crowd driving them to five wins and four draws at the stadium, with just three defeats from their first 12 games at the West Bridgford venue in 2022/23.
Their excellent home form since the restart in December has seen them pull away from the drop zone, but they were brought right back to Earth at the weekend following a 4-0 defeat to the Hammers at the London Stadium. It was their eighth away loss so far; only Southampton have lost more (9).
Defeat debated
Nottingham Forest collapsed in dismal fashion to lose 4-0 at West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday.
For plenty of Reds fans, the decision to replace Jonjo Shelvey with Andre Ayew proved pivotal with a glut of goals following in the final 20 minutes at the London Stadium.
We debated the decision on the latest Garibaldi Red podcast with Matt Davies, Greg Mitchell, Mikey Clarke and BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray.
Was the collapse down to the substitution or is that giving the players an excuse?
CF: "The starting point is that Jonjo Shelvey has to come off. We would all agree that if he doesn't have to come off then he doesn't get taken off.
Predicted line-up
Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in eight Premier League games at the City Ground, a run they could desperately do with extending this weekend.
Home form is proving crucial to the Reds’ survival bid. And with the gap between Steve Cooper’s side and the relegation zone down to four points, there is much riding on Sunday’s clash with Everton.
Getting the team selection right will be key. The 4-0 thumping at West Ham United showed the difference changes in shape and personnel can make, with the departure of Jonjo Shelvey proving a turning point at the London Stadium.
The midfielder’s substitution was a planned one. He has only recently recovered from a calf problem and Cooper said afterwards that he didn’t want to “risk him getting injured again”.
How should Forest line up against Everton? Have your say in the comments below
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