Could Nottingham Forest be about to add the name of John Bostock to a list which already includes Rafa Mir and Aro Muric?
Should they be doing so?
Loan deals aplenty are, potentially, in the process of being ripped up.
Three of those drafted in on short-term deals over the summer may make it no further than January.
Few complaints will be offered if that does prove to be the case.
Muric did not take long to fall out of favour following his arrival from Manchester City.
Early errors from the Kosovan keeper opened a door for Brice Samba.
That has now been slammed in his face by a Congolese custodian.
It is unlikely to be left ajar again, with Jordan Smith getting the nod for FA Cup duty at Chelsea, with George Shelvey on the bench.
Another of those who has dropped completely out of favour in recent weeks is Mir.
The Spanish striker has seen patience run out.
Memories
If he is to depart, then he will leave behind memories of 13 goalless appearances.
Having previously failed to find any value in a deal with Wolves for Leo Bonatini, history has rather repeated itself.
Mir is no longer required and a parting of ways is probably best for all concerned.
Forest are in the market for another frontman, so limited game time will become nonexistent.
The same may be true for Bostock.
In fairness to him, the 27-year-old has done little wrong.
He has not had the chance to flop as badly as a couple of fellow loanees.
The ex-Tottenham and Crystal Palace midfielder has taken in just 97 minutes of Championship game time.
The majority of his action – two 90-minute outings – has come in the Carabao Cup.
Bostock has seen no game time at all since being introduced late on in the 4-0 victory over QPR on November 27.
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Have Forest seen the last of him?
Transfer talk has been sparked with the January window open, with it suggested that another loan could be agreed by parent club Toulouse.
Those at the City Ground would need to sanction the end of their agreement first.
Sabri Lamouchi is giving little away when it comes to his input in those discussions.
Quizzed on Bostock after overlooking him again for a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea, the Reds boss said in the Nottingham Post: “It was just a choice.
“John is a very nice guy and very professional, but I preferred to give the time for some young players.
“I preferred to put the young players on the bench and to maybe give some of them chances during the game. That was my thoughts.”
Hardly a public show of support.
Which opens things up to plenty of reading between the lines.
Forest have no need to persevere with outcasts that they do not own – that is the joy of loan deals.
Mir and Muric look to be complete write offs, and it would now come as little surprise if Bostock were to join them in making his way through the departure lounge in the coming weeks.
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