Nottingham Forest bolstered their ranks with no fewer than 12 new signings during the summer transfer window. Many of Sabri Lamouchi’s new recruits have already made an impact and there is optimism of a good season around the City Ground.
The Reds have lost two on the spin to Wigan and Hull but still sit in eighth place, four points off the top of the Championship ahead of tomorrow’s home game against Reading.
Forest’s recruitment team and Lamouchi were among the busiest clubs in the division given the urgent need to strengthen several areas on the pitch.
Although several players were added to the Forest ranks, several players were targeted as per reports but never managed to get over the line and pen terms at the City Ground.
One man who was linked with a move to the City Ground was Mehdi Zeffane who played his club football for Rennes last season (Nottinghamshire Live).
The Algerian right-back achieved stardom with his country during the summer as he helped his country with the African Cup of Nations in Egypt, playing alongside former Forest fan favourite, Adlene Guedioura.
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Those exploits hampered his chances of getting hooked up with a new club and he is yet to get himself hooked up with a deal anywhere.
Zeffane played under Lamouchi with the French outfit and he was part of the team that achieved a placed in the Europa League against all the odds.
Forest chose to land Carl Jenkinson instead but after just a few games for the Reds, he has joined Tendayi Darikwa on the treatment table at the City Ground, leaving Matty Cash to fill the void at right-back.
With both of Forest’s recognised right-backs injured, it asks the question of whether Lamouchi might look for a January reunion with Zeffane.
Strength in depth
Cash has looked a menace going forward and although he hasn’t let anyone down at right-back, his best qualities are undoubtedly better utilised out on the flank.
Darikwa will miss most of the season with an ACL injury and if Jenkinson’s injury is more serious than first thought, Lamouchi might be wise to offer Zeffane something.
Capable of playing on either side of the back four, the Algerian is a quality modern-day full-back who has proved useful at both ends of the pitch.
Lamouchi knows all about Zeffane and on a free transfer, Forest could certainly do a lot worse than offering the player a chance to prove himself.
There perhaps is a reason that Zeffane hasn’t found a club yet. Finances, desire to play in a certain country or a simple lack of offers could all be part of the reason.
The one area of the pitch where Forest are short, however, is right-back and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Reds revisit Zeffane’s availability in January..
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