Nottingham Forest could end the transfer window with just four central defenders: Is that enough?
There are less than 25 hours until the transfer window closes, and Nottingham Forest are finalising their business.
Forest are still active in the market, and could consider moves for a number of players, notably a goalkeeper, midfielder, and/or attacking midfielder, with any number, or none, of those deals possible.
It is frankly a very unpredictable situation which is not helped by the collapsed transfer for Harrison Armstrong, while a move for Jacob Murphy looks unlikely as new Newcastle United boss Matthias Jaissle wants to keep the 31-year-old.
A lack of defensive options?
There is slightly more certainty with regard to outgoings, with a growing expectation that Morato, and likely Zach Abbott, will leave the club on loan.
Morato has interest from West Ham, as well as a host of Italian clubs, while Abbott is the subject of interest from several Championship sides.
With Tyler Bindon having already left on loan, joining Charlton Athletic for the remainder of the season, two more exits would leave the Reds' defensive options thin to say the least.
After the Reds' starting trio, this would leave Oliver Glasner with just one additional centre-back.
Fortunately, that is likely to be Jair Cunha, who can play on either side of the defence, but it is still a far from ideal situation. Ryan Yates has shown an ability to step into the role, but is not a natural defender.
On paper, Forest will have fewer games as a result of not being in Europe this season, but the new shape – Glasner's 3-4-2-1 system – requires an extra starting centre-back in each game.
In the 2024/25 season, Glasner's last without competing in Europe, his Crystal Palace squad featured seven players who were comfortable playing centre-back.
With Abbott and Morato both seemingly heading towards the exit, Forest will have just four, not including Yates.
Strong availability
The four who are expected to remain at the club do boast very impressive injury records, or a lack thereof, besides Ousmane Diomande missing 11 games for club and country last season.
It is good news for Forest, who will depend on the fitness of their starting trio for most of the season.
One suspension or injury would reduce the Reds' depth at centre-back to zero, meaning that as things stands, there will be a near-weekly sweat over their fitness.
Stick or twist
The obvious solution would be to sign an additional central defender, but as it stands that does not look to be under consideration. Though famously anything can happen on deadline day.
Alternatively, Forest can stick with their current options, a risk that could either pay off, or bear untold consequences.
Either way, Forest have very little time to make their decision, and by this time tomorrow, we will have a much clearer, though not definitive, picture of what the outcome will be.
