As we edge into the final month of 2017, attention is slowly beginning to turn to 2018, which for the Sky Bet Championship will mean the opening of the January transfer window, where a host of clubs will be looking to strengthen their squads ahead of the second-half of the season.  

One of those clubs will be Nottingham Forest, who will be hoping to remain in touching distance with the play-off zone between now and then, with the hope they can strengthen enough to mount a serious push for the top-six.

Forest moved to eighth in the table following their 1-0 victory over Norwich City on Tuesday evening, and enter the coming weekend just two points outside the play-off zone, well placed for a push in 2018.

The likelihood is that Mark Warburton will be looking to do some business in January, as he aims to reshape his squad and give them the best chance of competing for the play-offs.

With that in mind, we take a look at what business, in and out, Forest might do in early 2018…

IN: Marcus Bettinelli

Recent reports have told us that Forest are preparing a January move for the Fulham goalkeeper, and he is exactly what the club need ahead of the second-half of the season.

Jordan Smith has done a fine job in goal this season, but Warburton understandably wants a more experienced goalkeeper at the City Ground.

Bettinelli is not currently in the picture at Craven Cottage, but played a crucial role in the club’s run-in last season, which led them to a play-off semi-final appearance.

OUT: Zach Clough

 

Maybe not permanently, but certainly a player who looks like he needs regular first-team football away on-loan, is £2.25m-rated Zach Clough.

There are no doubts that Clough has a future at the City Ground, but he is wasted sat on Forest’s bench, he needs a regular run of games elsewhere in the Championship or back in League One.

Warburton has been reluctant to use Clough this season, and it would be silly of Forest not to hand him a chance to prove himself elsewhere in January.