Nottingham Forest manager Sabri Lamouchi is expected to be a busy man in the January transfer window, as he prepares to strengthen his squad ready for a promotion push in the second half of the campaign.

The Reds currently sit three points off the automatic promotion places in the Sky Bet Championship table, and teams are starting to take notice of them.

Forest brought in plenty of players over the course of the summer, but also bid farewell to plenty too, with Lamouchi trimming his squad and clearing the deadwood.

In order to bring in further additions in January, Lamouchi will have to get rid of others first, and that is likely to be a main priority of his this winter.

The Reds still have a considerably large number of players on their books, and there is expected to be plenty of departures at the City Ground in January.

Here, we take a look at six Nottingham Forest players who could be shown the exit door in January...

Despite being a regular for Forest under Aitor Karanka and Martin O'Neill last term, Pantilimon faces an uncertain future on Trentside.

The 32-year-old made 44 appearances in all competitions for Forest last season, but he's yet to be even named on the bench under Lamouchi this time around.

He's likely to be on a decent wage packet, and getting rid of him in January could be best for both parties.

Another goalkeeper who could be on his way out in January is Jordan Smith.

The 24-year-old hasn't featured for the Reds since January 2018, after a 3-0 home defeat to Preston North End, and has since endured loan spells at Barnsley and Mansfield Town.

Having fallen behind Brice Samba and Aro Muric in the pecking order at the City Ground, a loan move away could be best for him.

Hefele hasn't featured for Forest since New Year's Day due to injury, but could still be on his way out of the City Ground in January.

The German defender has flattered to deceive since making the move from Huddersfield Town last summer, making 18 appearances in all competitions thus far.

He's looked shaky in defence at times, and with so many quality defenders ahead of him in the pecking order, it would make sense to get rid of him.

This may be harsh on Benalouane, but if it means bringing in someone else in a position that needs strengthening, then Forest have to be ruthless.

The Tunisian defender is another player who is yet to feature under Lamouchi due to injury, and hasn't played a game since he was sent off against Sheffield United in April.

The 32-year-old's time on Trentside started off well, but he looked sloppy towards the latter stages of the 2018/29 campaign.

It's highly unlikely that he will break into the team ahead of Michael Dawson, Joe Worrall, Chema and Tobias Figueiredo.

Zach Clough has been completely frozen out at the City Ground, and looks destined to leave the club in the winter transfer window.

The attacking midfielder signed for the Reds from Bolton in 2017, but he's started just 13 times in the league, and just hasn't cut it in the Championship.

After unsuccessful loan spells at Bolton and Rochdale, there seems to be no way back for Clough at Forest. A move away could help to reignite his once promising career.

We may have listed two goalkeepers already, but don't be too surprised if Muric does leave the club in January.

The 21-year-old signed on loan from Manchester City in the summer, but his time at the City Ground has gone downhill since he made two glaring errors in the opening day defeat to West Brom.

Brice Samba has since established himself as the number one choice in-between the sticks, and he has been so impressive this season.

City cannot be happy with Muric playing only five times this season, and a potential recall could be on the cards in January.