£20m wonderkid and 10-cap international… Three players Forest should target after Awoniyi injury

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With Taiwo Awoniyi out for up to four months after groin surgery, Nottingham Forest may have to target another striker in January.

Steve Cooper confirmed today that the Nigerian would miss a large part of the season after undergoing yet more surgery on his troublesome groin issue.

With Chris Wood’s contract expiring at the end of the season and Divock Origi potentially returning to AC Milan in January, a new striker must be top of Cooper’s wish list.

Here are three players we think Cooper and the team should be targeting in this window…

Serhou Guirassy

Although he may be an obvious choice, Forest should do everything they can to bring Serhou Guirassy to the City Ground.

Guirassy already has 15 league goals this campaign, including two hat-tricks against Mainz and Wolfsburg – with his goals firing Stuttgart to third in the Bundesliga after eleven matches.

The 27-year-old only joined Stuttgart on a permanent basis this summer after an impressive loan spell last campaign, but his new deal sees him have a €20 million release clause – an absolute bargain.

Thijs Dallinga

A name that hasn’t been mentioned with Forest, however, the club should be targeting a move for Toulouse striker Thijs Dallinga in January.

The 23-year-old striker has impressed so far this season, with seven goals in 16 appearances this season including home and away against Liverpool in the Europa League this season.

However, if the Reds were to target the Dutchman, they would face competition from fellow Premier League sides Brentford, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.

Marcos Leonardo

Cooper’s side were interested in signing the 20-year-old Brazilian back in August, but a move never materialised.

Should Forest want to reignite a move for Leonardo, the club would face tough competition from fellow Premier League side Newcastle United who are also interested in the Brazilian U20 international.

Santos have struggled in the Brazilian Serie A this season, but Leonardo has scored 13 goals in 27 appearances – with a £20 million price tag being touted.