Nottingham Forest are stepping up their recruitment drive ahead of the closure of the January transfer window, with a new striker on the radar.
The Reds are keen to add quality over quantity this month. Evangelos Marinakis wants a new forward at Forest, however, the panic button won’t be pushed if one isn’t obtained.
Forest want Matheus Cunha as the top target it would seem. He’s been linked with a move from Wolves this month although they don’t want to lose a top player in the midst of a relegation battle.
Regardless of whether any players eventually arrive at Forest, it looks as though some will leave. West Ham are eyeing Taiwo Awoniyi before the window shuts, with two EFL clubs monitoring Willy Boly.
Andrew Omobamidele set to leave Forest to make surprise loan move
It’s been mentioned for a little while that Omobamidele will make a loan move away from Forest this month. The centre-back has made one Carabao Cup appearance all season and hasn’t played at all in the Premier League.
Sheffield United and Leeds wanted Omobamidele but neither have been successful. Instead, according to L’Equipe, he’s set to join Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg in a surprising deal.
The report makes the intriguing claim that the defender will be joining the club permanently this month – with the Reds choosing to let him go for good. Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo appeared to rate Omobamidele highly last season, with the player making 14 appearances for the Reds.
The 22-year-old has played for the Republic of Ireland 10 times but hasn’t made the squad for the last two rounds of international games. With that in mind, he will be desperate to play football and Liam Rosenior looks to have handed him that chance.
Omobamidele had no future at Forest
Steve Cooper signed Omobamidele for £11 million from Norwich City in the summer of 2023. Bizarrely, he then proceeded to leave him out of his thinking, viewing the player as very much one of the future.
When Espirito Santo came to the club he started to play a little bit. Omobamidele scored on his debut in the FA Cup against Blackpool and from there he became an important member of the team.
Despite helping Forest stay up last season, the clear shift in ambition has left Omobamidele struggling to get into the squad let alone the starting eleven on a weekly basis.
Forest signed Nikola Milenkovic and Morato in the summer and with Murillo and Willy Boly at the club, Omobamidele has found himself as the fifth-choice option in Espirito Santo’s squad.
This move feels like a positive one. He will get the chance to remain playing top-level football and perhaps more crucially he will be playing in a lesser league that should suit his style and ultimately allow him to regain his place on the international stage.
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