This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

As the January transfer window fast approaches, clubs up and down the country will be identifying potential transfer targets who could bolster their squads for the second half of the season.

For Chris Hughton's Nottingham Forest, a new source of goals could be on the agenda in the new year after what has been a goal-shy start to the campaign in the Championship for the Reds, with them scoring just nine goals, a paltry figure when you compare it to the 27 goals scored by Blackburn Rovers already.

One player who knows how to find the back of the net and whom was on Forest's transfer radar in the summer is Dundee United striker Lawrence Shankland - a player who scored 29 goals in 35 appearances for club and country last season.

Whether Forest renew their interest in Shankland in January remains to be seen, but with their summer interest in mind, do you think Hughton should look north of the border and re-ignite interest in the Scottish striker in the new year?

The team here at FLW take a look.....

Alfie Burns

It’s a tough one to call.

On one hand, I feel like Hughton will want to tweak his squad in January and that might include signing a striker.

However, in Lyle Taylor and Lewis Grabban, is there really an upgrade signing Shankland?

Taylor, in my mind, is a player that’s more than good enough to lead the line and score 15+ goals in the Championship this season.

I think other areas of the Forest squad need to be a priority rather than chasing another striker.

 

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Phil Spencer

Lawrence Shankland is definitely a player that Nottingham Forest should be targeting.

The 25-year-old has already established himself as a natural goalscorer during his time with Dundee United and now it's time to prove himself at a higher level.

After scoring 24 goals in 26 appearances last term there's no doubt as to what sort of player Forest would be getting.

Given their frailties in that department this move could prove to be a masterstroke considering he'd likely be available for a relative modest fee.

In my opinion, it's certainly one that Forest should look to pursue.

Jacob Potter

I'd avoid this potential deal.

Shankland has an impressive record with Dundee United, but I'm not sure Forest actually need another striker at this moment in time.

The Reds haven't started this year's campaign very well at all, but I think their issues lie elsewhere.

Lyle Taylor seems to be adjusting well to life at the City Ground now, and is more than capable of challenging Lewis Grabban for a starting spot in Chris Hughton's side this term.

Therefore, I don't think a striker needs to be Nottingham Forest's priority heading into the winter transfer window.

They still need to find a midfielder that can provide the team with a much-needed creative spark in the absence of Joao Carvalho, who departed in the summer.