If recent reports to believed, Nottingham Forest could make a move to sign Barnsley ace Alex Mowatt this month, should they decide to sign a central midfield player.

The Reds are flying high in the Championship and are currently fourth in the league table, but head coach Sabri Lamouchi is keen to strengthen his squad in the transfer market this month, to give his side the best possible chance of winning promotion.

The Athletic have reported that signing a winger and at least one forward is a priority for Forest in the January window, but also claim that the Reds have identified a number of central midfield targets, including Barnsley star Mowatt.

The 24-year-old has been an extremely important player for Barnsley this season, scoring two goals and providing seven assists in 24 Championship appearances. He was also a key part of the side that won automatic promotion from League One last season.

Here are TWO potential knock-on effects on Forest, should the Reds decide to sign Mowatt this month...

John Bostock leaving the club

John Bostock joined Forest on a season-long loan from French side Toulouse in the summer, but the experienced midfielder has struggled for game time since his arrival at the City Ground.

The 32-year-old has made just five appearances for the Reds in all competitions and has started just one game in the Championship. He hasn't featured for the club since November and has failed to make the squad for the last nine matches.

Lamouchi already has a lot of central midfielders available to him, so if Forest were to sign another one this month in Mowatt, it would probably see Bostock pushed further down the pecking order and the club could decide to terminate his loan.

Ryan Yates going out on loan

Ryan Yates was an important player for Forest in the second half of last season and was able to establish himself as a key player for the Reds under Martin O'Neill.

After missing the start of the current season through injury, the 22-year-old and has found himself in and out of the starting line up over the past few matches.

He's a very promising player, but he's currently got the likes of Samba Sow, Ben Watson and Alfa Semedo ahead of him in the pecking order. If the Reds were to sign another central midfielder this month in Mowatt, he'd face even more competition.

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Yates is rated highly for the future at Forest and signed a long-term contract extension at the club last month, but if the Reds were to sign Mowatt, he'd probably struggle to get into the team and perhaps he would benefit from going out on loan.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.