Lewis Grabban has been the focal point of Nottingham Forest's attack since his arrival in 2018.

Before this season started, he had netted 36 league goals in 84 appearances, becoming the prolific frontman that Forest had needed.

But he's had a tricky start to the current campaign, failing to get off the mark in seven attempts.

The 32-year-old has been out of action for the past few weeks due to a hip injury, and that has given summer recruit Lyle Taylor the chance to impress.

Ex-Charlton striker Taylor has four Forest goals to his name, including a brace in the last game against Wycombe Wanderers, and that may make him Chris Hughton's number-one choice up-front from now on.

 

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Hughton favours a one-striker system, and with reports that former Forest gaffer Sabri Lamouchi was keen to bring Grabban to Qatar with his new club Al-Duhail last month, there could be more interest in the striker this coming January.

Would Grabban's potential departure be the worst thing in the world for Forest? We take a look at the pros and cons of such a deal happening.

Pro: Can make Lyle Taylor the focal point of the attack

Grabban's hip injury has seen Taylor given more minutes to impress, and he's certainly done just that.

Forest fans have been impressed with not just his work rate, but his goalscoring abilities, and he's certainly a man in-form right now.

Taylor is a couple of years younger than Grabban and has a lot more pace to burn than his fellow striker, which will be helpful when Hughton wants to go more defensive and play on the counter attack.

Con: Would lose a proven scorer

Despite not having the best start to this season, Grabban is still a proven goalscorer at this level, and those players are hard to come by.

There's no proof as to whether this is just a blip in form right now or if he really is regressing as a player as he gets a year older, but Hughton will have to do some analysing when January comes around if he still isn't finding the back of the net.

Pro: Forest would cut the wage bill

Grabban was purchased for £6 million two years ago, so is likely to be one of the top earners at the club.

Forest are likely to have one of the top wage bills in the league with players like Anthony Knockaert, Joe Lolley, Harry Arter and others in their squad, and in this current financial climate, cutbacks may be necessary.

If Hughton doesn't see Grabban as a starting player anymore, Forest may be best trying to cash in on their number seven before he gets even older.

Con: Forest would be thin up-top

 

Without getting a replacement in, Grabban's departure would leave Hughton with just Taylor and Miguel Angel Guerrero to select.

There's no guarantee that Hughton would be given the funds to get a replacement through the door, and Forest must be sailing close to the Financial Fair Play limit as it is, so losing Grabban might be a big risk.