Nottingham Forest completed two signings on transfer deadline day but their search for another striker remained elusive as it had throughout January.
With Forest signing Joel Ndala in the final moments of the transfer window, Forest fans will have been partly excited about the exciting addition of the 18-year-old, but equally disappointed at the lack of an incoming striker.
It seemed a long shot that a new striker would be brought in given Forest’s decision to keep Taiwo Awoniyi but rumours persisted when Rob Dorsett suggested that Forest were still looking for forward reinforcements with mere hours to go until the deadline.
However, all excitement was quashed in an instant when David Ornstein revealed Forest wouldn’t sign a striker leaving just Awoniyi to support the prolific output of Chris Wood up front.
Jude Bellingham hailed Wood after his hattrick against Brighton on Saturday, with these heroics needing to be repeated throughout the final months of the season if Forest are to secure European football for the following campaign.
That campaign may well be supported by Yoane Wissa of Brentford, with a new report suggesting whether Forest will return for the Congolese forward in the summer transfer window.
Nottingham Forest plot summer swoop for Yoane Wissa
Wissa was linked with Forest early into the transfer window but the move never materialised after Brentford rejected Forest’s bid for Wissa and no further offer was submitted.
However, according to the Telegraph, Evangelos Marinakis hasn’t quite given up on Wissa just yet with the summer window seen as an opportunity to look past the January frustrations and finally secure the Brentford man.
The report said: “The Congolese attacker [Wissa] has been a target for Forest across the last two transfer windows, and a proposal of around £18 million, plus add-ons, was turned down on January 21.
“Talks were held last week through intermediaries over potentially reviving the deal, but Brentford made it clear that Wissa was not for sale.
“Forest are expected to revisit their interest in the summer. The 28-year-old appeals to Nuno and the recruitment department for his versatility as a forward who can play across the front three.”
Wissa recently carved his name into Brentford history by becoming their record Premier League scorer, but if Forest have their way, he’ll be chasing Wood’s Forest Premier League scoring record before long.
The Brentford star isn’t the only player Forest may look to return for, though, with another of January’s top targets looking set to be revived in the summer.
Nottingham Forest face a choice between Yoane Wissa and Matheus Cunha
Whilst the Telegraph report does go on to suggest that: “Marinakis did make it clear that funds were available for other players [in January],” it is surely unlikely that Forest will target both Wissa and the widely admired Matheus Cunha.
Marinakis made Cunha his top target in January but the deal was never completed due to the Brazilian signing a new contract at Molineux. Not all was lost though as the new deal included a release clause, meaning Forest can sign Cunha for £62.5m in the summer should they choose to pursue.
On the flip side, Wissa was available to Forest for £40m in January whilst the Cunha saga raged on, leaving the Forest owner with a debate as to which striker will benefit his side more.
Cunha has age on his side being three years younger than Wissa, but the Congolese striker has a better goalscoring record to depend upon.
Both would certainly provide adequate cover and alternative attributes to Wood, it just remains to be seen how much Marinakis is willing to spend on a summer attacking upgrade.
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