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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Sarah Clapson & Mark Wakefield

Explained: Nottingham Forest's main summer transfer window priorities

It still remains to be seen which division Nottingham Forest will find themselves in next season.

Prior to English football being suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Reds were in fifth place in the Sky Bet Championship table.

There will be no football until after April 30, with the EFL confirming that the season has been "extended indefinitely".

By the time the season comes to a close, Forest could be preparing for a return to the Premier League for the first time in more than 20 years.

But even if they’re not, even if they just miss out this time around, a big summer transfer window awaits.

The overall look of the Reds’ business will no doubt depend on whether they are to ply their trade in the first or second tier next season - it is too early to say with any degree of certainty on that front.

But whether it be with Premier League football in mind or plotting another promotion assault, there are a couple of key priorities which need addressing either way.

Up front

Not all fans are happy with the business the club did on this front in January. A fair few would like to have seen more firepower brought in.

It proved to be a tough window, though - and not just for Forest, who held an interest in a number of different strikers.

Nuno da Costa came in from Strasbourg and Tyler Walker was recalled from his loan spell at Lincoln City. They already had the excellent Lewis Grabban in the squad.

Whether that proves to be enough, only time will tell.

If not, then the Reds may well feel another forward is needed to help shoulder the goalscoring burden when the 2020-21 campaign begins in earnest.

And in the event Forest do go up, then you’d have to say strengthening in attack would be a must.

Contract situation

A number of players are due to see their deals run out in the summer - some of whom have been a crucial part of the team’s climb up the table. Ben Watson and Sammy Ameobi, for instance.

The former seems to have found a new lease of life this season, while Ameobi has been a central attacking figure.

A decision will have to be made about whether to offer them fresh terms - as with others whose contracts expire, including those who have come in on loan.

Defender Michael Dawson is also among that group. At 36, the man himself will have a say on what comes next - whether he still feels he has something to offer from a playing perspective, or if a different role (surely coaching) beckons.

If it is the latter, with ex-pros Chris Cohen, Andy Reid and Julian Bennett part of the City Ground set-up, the Reds would be wise to add Dawson to the list.

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