Nottingham Forest manager Martin O’Neill is waiting to discover the size of his transfer kitty for the summer window.
The Reds spent big 12 months ago, breaking records along the way.
Questions can be asked of the value found in that investment.
And with that in mind, more money will be required when the market re-opens.
How much, though, is needed?
In which areas do the Reds need to strengthen?
What are the priorities for the next few months?
The answers to those questions will be determined by how much is made available.
Evangelos Marinakis has been prepared to put his hand in his pockets to this point, but how deep are they?
We are about to find out.
Elaborate
Not any time soon, though, with O’Neill yet to be informed of how elaborate his next recruitment drive can be.
Quizzed on whether budget talks have been held, the Forest boss said in the Nottingham Post: “No, not yet. I think I’ll have those conversations with the board very soon.”
The sooner the better!
From boardroom to dugout, the Reds need to ensure that they are proactive this summer.
No waiting around to discover what becomes available.
Forest should be looking to force the issue by asking questions early.
Get bodies on board quickly and give them as long as possible to settle into new surroundings before the 2019-20 campaign gets underway.
O’Neill admits that plans are being pieced together.
He added in the Post: “Almost peripherally I have done that, trying to set some sort of things – players you think might help the club.
“If that’s at all possible in whatever budgets are given, we’ll have a look and see.”
Targets
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Funds will dictate targets.
There is no point looking at players who will be out of the club’s reach.
Realistic ambition needs to be shown.
Aim high by all means, but let’s not waste time heading towards dead ends.
O’Neill claims to be aware of the current loan stars that he would like to be back for more next season.
More short-term agreements, or possible permanent ones, need to be explored now.
Attention can then turn to the pursuit of elusive final pieces of the promotion puzzle.
Much tweaking is expected, on the arrival and departure fronts, and Forest really need to be spending wisely.
Whether they manage that remains to be seen.
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