Nottingham Forest might be set to bolster their squad on transfer deadline day after all, with the Reds facing a fight to bring anyone in before the deadline.
Forest have set their sights high this window with the team in third place in the Premier League table. That has seen the club focus on streamlining the squad rather than focusing on incoming business with no new arrivals as of yet.
James Ward-Prowse has returned to West Ham from Forest. He made 10 appearances for the club but in recent weeks he’s found his chances on regular action restricted and on Saturday he wasn’t on the bench as Forest won 7-0 against Brighton.
Yoane Wissa has been the number one Forest target. However, as Jamie Redknapp points out, he’s likely to be worth around £40 million and the Reds were never going to be in the market to spend that type of money in January.
Nottingham Forest set to sign Aberdeen talent Lewis Carrol
According to The Athletic, Forest are going to beat Chelsea and Arsenal to the services of the 16-year-old defender ahead of tonight’s transfer deadline.
The teenage defender has caught the eye in recent months with a string of fine performances in the Aberdeen youth ranks with clubs south of the border monitoring closely in recent months.
Carrol is a ball-playing defender who made a couple of appearances for the Aberdeen youth ranks in the prestigious UEFA Youth League earlier this season.
He also featured for the senior side in a Challenge Cup game but a defeat to Banks O’Dee meant that his chances of more minutes weren’t forthcoming.
Carrol is a regular for the Scotland under-17 outfit and now he looks set to continue his career with Forest who have fought off stiff competition for his services.
Forest keeping one eye on future prospects
Forest have a proud history with their youth ranks and it’s clear that the club won’t be abandoning their approach when it comes to signing players with one eye on the future.
Carrol clearly won’t be playing Premier League football anytime soon but the fact that Arsenal and Chelsea courted him is promising when it comes to his potential.
Forest might have held the aces here based on Ross Wilson and Craig Mulholland working at the football club and given they both spent time at Rangers, they will know all of the Scottish gems.
The Reds might not get a senior signing over the line before tonight’s deadline. But given the good work done this season the club should be trusted and Carrol checking in at least indicates the future looks extremely bright.
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