Nottingham Forest look set to make an assault on Plymouth in the summer for Luke Jephcott – and they could have a trump card.
The striker has been on Forest’s radar for a little while and although boss Ryan Lowe was adamant he wouldn’t leave in January, he could be powerless come the summer.
Jephcott has been a man on a mission during 2020/21. The 21-year-old has fired 18 goals for the Pilgrims during his first season in League One.
Forest are likely to be in the market for a striker when the summer window opens. Lewis Grabban and Lyle Taylor are both in their thirties and a younger model will be sought.
Jephcott ticks all the boxes for a signing that Forest supporters would love the club to make. He is young, has potential to improve and perhaps crucially would come with a point to prove.
At £3.5 million, the Wales under-21 international wouldn’t come cheap – but Forest could have a bartering chip firmly up their sleeve.
Tyrese Fornah has been on loan at Home Park this season, playing 23 games under Lowe’s management.
Plenty will view the academy graduate as a future Forest player but it might not quite so simple.
Fornah made his debut at Chelsea in the FA Cup last season but hasn’t really pushed towards the first-team since.
Opportunities
His loan spell will have definitely done him good but at 21-year-old the midfielder needs to continue playing regularly.
With Ryan Yates and Jack Colback already under contract for next season – and Hughton likely to want his own players – those opportunities could be limited again.
With that in mind, a move to Plymouth as part of a deal for Jephcott looks like a good one for all parties.
The Pilgrims would get themselves a player who they know can do it in League One, whilst Forest would land a striker who could spearhead their attack for years to come.
Food for thought for Hughton and for Forest.
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