Nottingham Forest fans will be hoping for better success last year after a mid-table finish was achieved.

There were plenty of signs that Forest could be competing higher up the league table, such as the FA Cup win over Arsenal and the emergence of their young academy products but their form was way too patchy and inconsistent to mount a serious challenge for a play-off spot.

With Aitor Karanka now at the helm, Forest fans will be hoping that success is just around the corner.

The Spaniard is clearly not happy with his squad and he has already been busy in January, bringing in new players and flogging fringe players.

Karanka will have an idea of how he wants his first-team squad to look next year and it is time to bring in his players to get his ideal side.

Here is how Nottingham Forest could line up next season, including three potential new signings who would slot straight into the starting XI.

Forest may be priced out of a permanent move for Costel Pantilimon and Kapino is a decent option to have instead.

The 24-year-old already has nine senior caps for Greece and could get much better with a year in the Championship under his belt.

Darikwa has had to wait for his chance at The City Ground but he made 32 appearances this season in the end.

Next year is a big campaign for the 26-year-old Zimbabwe international, who is dangerous going forward.

Figueiredo has been fantastic and securing his services on a permanent deal was great business for the Reds.

The Portuguese centre-half helped shore things up at the back for Karanka and he is expected to be the main man in defence next season.

It was a mixed season for Worrall, who was perhaps distracted by talk of a big money move to the Premier League.

But it is easy to forget that the youngster is still just 21 and he will get better the more he plays.

A new left-back is needed this summer and Forest have been linked with a cut-price move for Max Clark, who is out of contract at Hull City.

The 22-year-old is far from the finished article but he has shown promising signs of progressing into a top defender.

Bridcutt gets some criticism but he has bags of energy and he always puts in a good shift.

Sitting in front of the defence, the 29-year-old should continue to operate in that role, allowing the other central midfielders to move forwards.

In January, Forest snapped up Lolley and he has improved the attacking midfield options a lot.

The former Huddersfield Town winger cuts inside from the right and offers a goal threat and a creative spark from the wide areas.

Cash has been used as a winger or as a central midfielder but he deserves a run in the team in his preferred position.

Sitting just ahead of the holding midfielder, the 20-year-old can show exactly why the Premier League big boys have been sniffing around him previously.

The first piece of business that Karanka needs to get done this summer is making Tomlin's deal permanent.

The 29-year-old offers goals from midfield and just has natural talent which improved Forest's options so much in the latter half of the season.

Osborn has been moved around a lot and has most recently been deployed as a left-back.

But the 23-year-old deserves the chance to show what he can do on the wing once again, as he has so much potential but needs to prove himself.

Forest need to upgrade on a striker and one of Marriott, Lewis Grabban or Abel Hernandez would be ideal.

Marriott, 23, scored 33 goals for Posh this season and he is surely ready to step up to Championship football.