Nottingham Forest will be working tirelessly behind the scenes to try and do some transfer business before the window closes in early February and West Ham want one of the team’s players it seems
The Reds drew 1-1 with Liverpool at the City Ground last night. Chris Wood and Diogo Jota scored the goals and it means Forest have taken four points from the league leaders this season.
Although Nuno Espirito Santo will be fully focused on football, the recruitment team will be working hard to do some business to ensure that the squad is in the best possible shape.
Taiwo Awoniyi has been linked with West Ham this month. Graham Potter needs a striker with Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug all unavailable for selection at the moment.
Taiwo Awoniyi to West Ham gains traction as talks with Forest begin
Clearly, this is a link that doesn’t seem to be going away. West Ham are in desperate need of a new striker and it looks as though Awoniyi is the player they crave.
According to Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Germany, talks are now underway between West Ham and Forest over a deal that would see Awoniyi head to the London Stadium.
It was claimed earlier this week that Forest wouldn’t offload Awoniyi. However, something might have changed in that sense with the clubs now in contact over doing something this month.
Awoniyi cost Forest £17.5 million from Union Berlin and was the club’s first signing after winning promotion back to the Premier League in the summer of 2022.
During the 2022/23 campaign, he was worth his weight in gold. Despite a groin injury that robbed him of a full season, he scored 11 Premier League goals and in truth, he kept the team in the top-flight.
This season has been a struggle, however, with Wood in fine form. He’s not got the sort of game time he requires to get himself back into any real goalscoring form and has just a single strike to his name this season.
Forest want Igor Jesus
It’s all good and well offloading Awoniyi given his current form, but a replacement will be needed. With Wood now 33-years-old, Forest can’t risk him getting injured and then going into games without a recognised striker.
That leads the club to possible replacements. Igor Jesus is one player wanted by Forest and he does seem to be wanted by a number of Premier League clubs before the window closes.
Whether it’s Jesus or not, the Reds do need another striker. Yuri Alberto is another player Forest like the look of and perhaps the Corinthians striker will reunite with Murillo on Trentside.
If the time does come for Awoniyi to leave, he should be sent on his way with very best wishes. He helped Forest remain as a Premier League club when all hope appeared lost and he will always be remembered as part of that team.
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