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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Barry Cooper & Tom Leach

These are the players that could leave Nottingham Forest before the transfer window closes on September 2

The transfer window may have already closed for Nottingham Forest but for English football's lower divisions, and across Europe, deals can still be done.

Including loans, 12 fresh faces came through the door this summer on Trentside to join a squad that was already full to the brim.

Nobody in the Championship can boast a larger squad that Sabri Lamouchi's, and the Frenchman has expressed his desire to shrink that squad before the summer is up - but who could leave?

Costel Pantilimon

Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon after the win against QPR (Dan Westwell)

The big Romanian may be the most likely to find the exit door at the City Ground at some stage during the coming fortnight.

Despite boasting a hefty total of clean sheets during the last campaign, and totting up more minutes than anyone in the Garibaldi, he has quickly been forced out to make way for Aro Muric and Brice Samba.

And with the European window still open, the ex-Manchester City man will surely attract plenty of attention from the continent, having already been linked with a move to Olympiacos.

Gboly Ariyibi

Gboly Ariyibi at Field Mill (Dan Westwell)

Like a number of Nottingham Forest's fringe players, while moves to the lower divisions seem the only option, their wage demands have so far prevented that from becoming a reality - and Ariyibi is one of those players.

Last season's impressive loan spell with Motherwell saw him become a hit north of the border, but the two clubs were not able to come to a deal during the summer, even with the Fir Park club keen on getting a deal over the line.

But the window in Scotland remains open until September 2, and there were plenty of Scottish club who faced him last season and will know all about the jet-heeled wide man.

Zach Clough

Zach Clough in action during Forest's friendly with Lincoln (Dan Westwell)

 

24-year-old Zach Clough still has two years left on his initial four-year-deal at Nottingham Forest and he will undoubtedly be one of the players Sabri Lamouchi will be keen to see move on.

To his credit, the forward boasts more than enough Championship experience to have earned himself a League One move - but only if a club is prepared to pay what he is worth.

But for now a loan move seems the most likely, unless the Reds can negotiate a deal that will see them not forced to pay him off for the final two years.

Jason Cummings

Jason Cummings in action for Nottingham Forest in a pre-season friendly at Mansfield Town (Dan Westwell)

The Scottish international has been linked with a number of clubs this summer and of Lamouchi's 'bomb squad' he is arguably the most valuable.

The Edinburgh-born 24-year-old scored plenty of goals north of the border for Hibernian before moving to Forest and even boasted a far from unhealthy return during his loan spell with Peterborough in League One.

But it could come back to bite the Reds that they could not move him on during the Championship window, with clubs such as Swansea said to be keen to make a deal happen.

Daryl Murphy

Nottingham Forest's Daryl Murphy during the pre-season friendly at Sincil Bank on Monday 29th July 2019. (Dan Westwell)

Could a move away from English football suit Daryl Murphy?

It sure would turn heads, but the striker, 36, has hit double figures in the Championship on four occasions during his career and has never dropped into the third tier of English Football.

It came as a surprise that Sunderland's search for a striker earlier in the window, Murphy's former club, did not see them turn to the ex-Ipswich man but they instead opted to sign Reading striker Marc McNulty.

He has had spells in Scotland during his career, but the only two clubs who could afford him signature are already pretty well stocked in the striker department.

Liam Bridcutt

Liam Bridcutt seemed an impressive signing when he moved to the City Ground.

To many, he had been he more impressive central defender in a partnership completed by the highly praised Pontus Jansson in the middle of Leeds United's defence - but it hasn't quite worked out how we all hoped.

Now he remains completely frozen out on Trentside and another player who will struggle to see a lower league club match his current wages.

Claudio Yacob

Claudio Yacob takes on fluid at Alfreton (Dan Westwell)

 

The curious case of the Argentine. Rated by so many, Yacob struggled to pin down a regular spot in the centre of the park under Aitor Karanka or Martin O'Neill, and that theme has continued under the new head coach.

Despite success in the Championship with West Brom, Yacob finds himself way down the list because Forest have so many options in the engine room.

John Bostock, Alfa Semedo, Samba Sow have all been signed, adding to the likes of Ben Watson and Ryan Yates meaning his chances of playing are very low.

Alexander Milosevic

Alexander Milosevic (NFFC)

 

The Swede has struggled to force his way into Sabri Lamouchi's plans since the Frenchman's arrival this summer, and with so many options available at the back, it would not be a surprise to see him moved on.

Highly rated among fans, Milosevic is behind Joe Worrall, Michael Dawson and Tobias Figueiredo, while Chema Rodriguez is also likely to be above him when he gets his fitness following a deadline day move.

Michael Hefele

Nottingham Forest defender Michael Hefele (Dan Westwell)

 

A summer move may come too soon for the German because of his Achilles problem, but his days at the City Ground are surely numbered, having been told he can leave the club.

Assuming he can get himself fit between now and January, the winter window may represent his best chance of securing a move away.

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