Nottingham Forest are in a promising position in the Championship table - fourth, with a game in hand.
But there is no getting away from their need to strengthen Sabri Lamouchi’s attacking resources this month.
Bringing in another striker, to help share the goalscoring burden with Lewis Grabban, is a priority during the transfer window.
The Reds have been linked with a number of forwards, but Brighton & Hove Albion front man Glenn Murray is one name understood to be on the club’s shortlist of targets.
Here’s what we know about those links with a move to the City Ground for the 36-year-old.
Brighton’s stance
Murray has six months left to run on his contract with the Seagulls and has largely found himself in the role of substitute this season.
He came on for the final 20 minutes of a 1-0 defeat to Everton at the weekend for his 15th appearance of the campaign - 10 of which have been from off the bench. The last time he started a Premier League game was in mid-September.
It is not certain whether Brighton will be prepared to let him go this month.
But it has been reported they would allow him to join a Championship club on a free transfer, though would want £500,000 from any top-flight team.
And The Telegraph claim that has left Forest with their pursuit of Murray.
Other interest
Several teams are said to have their eye on the veteran forward, including Premier League pair Newcastle United and Aston Villa, as well as Celtic.
Forest are favourites for his signature, according to the bookies, with SkyBet listing them as 3/2, while Reading are 2/1 and Villa 6/1.
Celtic’s odds of landing Murray are given as 10/1, and the Magpies and West Ham United are both down as 12/1.
According to The Argus, Albion would not be averse to allowing the player to join one of their divisional rivals, if that is his wish.
They quote a well-placed source as saying, “it certainly wouldn’t be the first choice to give a direct rival a lift up” but added the club are willing to be “pragmatic” if necessary.
What Albion boss has said
Back at the start of the month, Seagulls manager Graham Potter dismissed speculation linking Murray with a move to the City Ground.
“It’s news to me, I’ve not heard anything and Glenn has been great for us,” he said at the time.
“At the same time, every player wants to be out on the pitch but I have no problem with him.”
Potter had previously said he would leave it up to Murray to have the final say on his future.
“He is a really important member of the group,” he told The Argus.
“At the same time, I respect his career. I respect where he is at and what he has done for this club.
“Ultimately, Glenn decides really in that respect, but hopefully he wants to stay here and be a part of what we are doing. He has been great for us.”
What he could bring
Explaining why he turned to Murray at Goodison Park, Potter told The Argus: “I think Glenn is unique in terms of how he plays football and his attributes.
“We haven’t got another player like him.
“That is why I say to him I don’t want him to be Neal (Maupay), I don’t want him to be Aaron (Connolly), I want him to be him. When he is him, you see what he brings to the team.
“We wanted him to affect the penalty area. Be as high as possible close to the goal.
“If the ball goes into the box, he has that knack of putting it in the net.”
What Lamouchi has said
The Forest head coach hasn’t commented on links to Murray directly, but he has made clear his wish to bring in a striker.
Asked if it would be a struggle were the Reds unable to bring in support for Grabban, he said: “Yes.
“The January window is a difficult market. It is difficult for Forest, but it is difficult for everybody.
“We just need to be patient and try to work.
“I know our people are working hard. They are traveling a lot, they are making a lot of calls and meetings.
“But it is not easy to find the right deal, when you take into account club, players, Championship, target, Premier League.
“It is not easy but we are working hard.
“For sure, a lot of clubs are going to be looking for a striker.
“But at the same time, I cannot complain because we are lucky - Grabban is here with us and is doing very well. He has scored a lot of goals.
“But if I have one more option - a striker to play with him or to give him some rest, it could be a fantastic option and opportunity for me.”
