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...

Nottingham Forest are keen on taking Fulham winger Anthony Knockaert on loan ahead of Friday's 5pm transfer deadline, as per The Athletic's Daniel Taylor.

The 28-year-old aided the Cottagers to the Premier League last season and has also gained promotion with former club Brighton and Hove Albion under the tutelage of now Forest boss Chris Hughton.

As is the nature of the Nottingham Forest squad at the moment, Knockaert could have a battle to get a spot in the Forest side with the the Reds' squad very inflated.

So, in your eyes, would Anthony Knockaert be a guaranteed starter in that Nottingham Forest XI if he signed?

The team here at FLW have their say...

George Dagless

I would have thought so.

You only have to consider that Chris Hughton wants to sign him and make him his first Forest player so that surely suggests that he'll be involved in the first-team from the get-go.

Of course, he'll then have to prove that he belongs there and form will need to be maintained and Hughton won't shirk from dropping him if needs be but I think that we'd see him start pretty quickly upon arrival because of that relationship they already have from their time together at Brighton.

Knockaert would surely help Hughton get his ideas onto the pitch quicker.

 

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Toby Wilding

I'd be surprised if he wasn't.

Given Hughton himself is seemingly keen on Knockaert, and knows him from his time from Brighton, it would be somewhat strange for him to bring him to a club that has already signed so many players this summer, if he is not going to use him.

Indeed, since he would be leaving a Premier League club in the form of Fulham, you also imagine Knockaert would be expecting a decent amount of game time if he was to make the move to The City Ground, as some sort of incentive for him to drop back down a division.

Knockaert has of course also shown over the years that he can play a key role in a Championship promotion winning side, there may not to be too much hesitation on Hughton's part to put him into the starting lineup, should he be able to secure the services of the Frenchman for the remainder of the campaign.

Alfie Burns

I think given that Hughton is now the manager and he’s clearly making a big fuss of getting Knockaert in, he’s going to play him on the right-side. If not, the deal makes no sense whatsoever.

Hughton does have Joe Lolley still kicking around, who is a very similar player to Knockaert in that he likes to play from the right and cut in. However, Knockaert is Hughton’s man, they’ve had success together before and he clearly trusts him.

I think that should be enough to see the winger move to the front of the queue in Forest’s inflated squad if he signs.

What that means for Lolley is anyone’s guess.