Nottingham Forest are expected to move for a new central defender in the January transfer window, with a loan deal for Loic Bade expected to be cut short, according to reports.
The Reds made a move for the Rennes defender in the summer, with the player joining on a season-long loan on deadline day. He was one of many new arrivals in the summer window as Steve Cooper looked to build a squad capable of competing in the Premier League.
However, since Bade moved to the City Ground he is yet to make an appearance for the club. The closest he has come is being an unused substitute in the Premier League game against Wolves back in October.
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Speaking last month, Cooper explained the lack of game time for the defender. “We haven’t got a bigger squad than normal in the Premier League; you can only name 25 in your squad anyway. So there is obviously going to be a line that some people don’t quite get over, to get in the team," he said .
“Loic hasn’t featured yet. But he’s training very well, he’s settling in, his English is getting much better, he has a good attitude towards training and good self-belief. It’s one of those things where you just have to work hard and wait for your time. When that is, that will be down to a number of factors.”
It now however seems that the Forest boss has made a decision over the future of the defender at the City Ground. According to the Athletic , the player’s loan deal is ‘likely’ to be cut short when the window re-opens in January with the defender returning to parent side Rennes.
The report goes on to say that Forest will look to sign ‘at least one’ central defender when the window opens, especially with Giulian Biancone having suffered a season-ending injury in training. The Reds have already been linked with a number of names who could arrive in the new year.
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