Nottingham Forest boss Chris Hughton is under no illusions about the importance of the summer ahead - even before the current season has finished.
With the target of a top six challenge next term, and the transfer window his first real chance to put his mark on the Reds squad, there is a lot riding on the next few months.
Crucial decisions will be made about players currently on the books as loan spells and contracts come to an end, while targets are continuing to be identified.
Preparation and planning, the manager has said, started almost as soon as he stepped through the door.
There will inevitably be significant changes afoot, both in terms of incomings and outgoings.
Plenty of speculation has already been doing the rounds on that front, with players linked with a move to and others a move from the City Ground.
Here is a look at the latest transfer news and rumours.
Where will Forest strengthen?
The priority will be to bolster Hughton’s attacking resources - although how that fits in with the forward players already at the club remains to be seen, with question marks about the future of some.
His squad have struggled for goals this season, and Hughton has said: "We need to demand more from individuals.
"If I'm looking at this moment, this season our top goal scorer is on four goals. It's quite obvious we need more goals in the team.
"Those goals have got to be provided by players who are in the squad - or new players that come here next season, because we know we'll have to recruit in the summer. There will be players who come here next season who can give us something."
The manager has said he expects Lewis Grabban to still be at the City Ground come August, while he has also stressed Lyle Taylor remains under contract.
On the latter, Hughton said: “This is a player who is contracted here. He is in the first year of his contract.
“There have been so many stories of individuals who have been in a similar position, where the first season didn’t go as well as they would have liked, for whatever reason - but then that changes. The second season does or the third season does.
“That’s always your thinking. Not only with Lyle, but with any player.”
Glenn Murray’s short-term deal will end in the summer, though, with the club and player weighing up what happens next.
The veteran forward said last month: “It’s 12 weeks’ work that I’m going to enjoy as much as I possibly can, playing football at my age.
“What happens after that, who knows.
“At the minute, I feel great, but I might go out tomorrow and something might go wrong, who knows.
“So far, so good.
“I’m sure we’ll sit down and speak about the future when the time is right.”
Who have the Reds been linked with?
A number of names have been thrown into the mix, with Plymouth Argyle striker Luke Jephcott one which has cropped up a fair bit.
Forest were reported to be among a number of clubs keen on the 21-year-old hot-shot in the January transfer window, with arch-rivals Derby County, Stoke City and Sheffield Wednesday also credited with an interest.
Plymouth boss Ryan Lowe admitted there had been “a few inquiries” about the young attacker but that they went no further than that.
He made it clear clubs would be wasting their time submitting offers, but that hasn’t stopped speculation continuing to swirl.
And now LancsLive claim Jephcott “is understood to have had a £5m fee attached for his services”.
Blackpool forward Jerry Yates has also been mentioned.
The 24-year-old has been in red-hot form for Blackpool this season, and is said to have put a number of sides on alert as a result - including the Reds, as well as Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City and Scottish giants Rangers.
He has previously been valued at £2m, and although manager Neil Critchley has said there is no intention of selling him, it is reported the chances of him remaining with the Seasiders beyond the summer “are very slim”.
Loans extended?
Hughton has five loan players in his squad - Anthony Knockaert, Cyrus Christie, Luke Freeman, Filip Krovinovic and James Garner.
Forest have options to make Christie and Freeman’s moves permanent, though the manager has been coy about what will happen with any of the loanees.
Garner has prompted the most discussion, though, given his impressive form.
The Reds would be keen to get him back, but they will not be the only ones chasing his signature.
It has been reported Manchester United will offer the midfielder a new deal before sending him on loan again - possibly abroad, although they could “settle” for him returning to the Championship.
That could be good news for Forest, although there is said to be interest from the Premier League for the youngster’s services .
Brighton and Hove Albion, Norwich City and Rangers have been eyeing him up, according to the player’s agent, Steven Beck.
He said: “Third loan? – I honestly don’t know.
“I had a couple of chats with John Murtough last week, but I’m so relaxed on the situation, as is James because things are going so well for him.
"James has put himself in a great position where he’s probably going to have, if he does go out on loan again, the majority of the Championship and I would be amazed if one or two Premier League clubs don’t try and do something.
“I know Brighton like him, I know Norwich like him... I know Rangers are really keen on him as well.”
Youngster’s involved?
Forest have several young players who have been impressing while building up game time elsewhere.
In particular, Brennan Johnson has caught the eye for Lincoln City, while Jordan Gabriel (Blackpool) and Tyrese Fornah (Plymouth) have also been doing well.
Asked whether they might affect his thinking when it comes to summer plans, Hughton said: “It doesn’t affect my thinking, because it’s how I think anyway.
“For as much as possible, if we have got young players that are doing well, then that’s the reason you send them out on loan.
“You send them out on loan so they can come into your thoughts and you can consider them.
“But ultimately, at the end, the biggest consideration will be, we have a real tough Championship season next year - and if anything this division is getting tougher. And what I want is the most competitive squad I can to be able to compete.
“If those young players we have spoken about, who have come back after being on loan, have done well enough to adjust my thinking, then it’s because it’s the right thing.
“All of these decisions are ones we’ll give a lot of thought to.
“Most importantly, they have gone out and done well, and they will have put themselves in the reckoning.”
Loanees to come back?
Along with those younger players, the Reds have a trio of senior pros on loan abroad - Joao Carvalho at Almeria, Nuno Da Costa at Royal Excel Mouscron and Nicholas Ioannou at Aris Thessaloniki.
The loan clubs have an option to buy Carvalho and Da Costa, while Ioannou’s father has suggested his son would be happy to remain in Greece.
Hughton has said: “All of them will come into our thinking over the next few weeks and couple of months, as regards what we want to do come the summer and next season.
“But I am very conscious of all of those who are contracted to this club that in theory will be with us on the first day of pre-season, unless otherwise.”
