Appearing over 100 times since his 2018 move to the City Ground, Tobias Figueiredo has emerged as a vital player in recent years. 

The 27-year-old initially joined The Reds on loan from Sporting CP in January 2018, before it was announced in late April that he would make his deal permanent in the summer.

Figueiredo has 13 appearances to his name this season, with 12 of those coming from the very start.

It appeared that the centre-back was dropping down the pecking order in Chris Hughton's final few games, but with Steve Cooper often deploying a three-at-the-back formation, Figueiredo has once again emerged as a regular starter.

The 27-year-old's current deal at the City Ground expires this summer, so here, we take a look at whether Nottingham Forest should sell or keep him in January.

There is some logic to sell

There is no denying that Figueiredo has been a strong performer for Forest over the years and could still have a future at the City Ground.

However, if he does not appear to be any closer to signing an extension, then it would make sense to try and regenerate some sort of fee in January before he is allowed to depart for free in the summer.

It does appear that he is third-choice centre-back under Cooper, with Joe Worrall and Scott McKenna seemingly ahead of him, meaning that if Forest were to add a central defender in January, then it would be no surprise if Forest allowed him to leave.

Keeping him also makes sense

Cooper did revert to a back four just before the international break, but for the vast majority of his time at Forest thus far, he has played with three centre-backs.

Figueiredo has proven to be a dependable figure under Cooper thus far, and he is becoming better and more efficient on the ball.

The 27-year-old has recently revealed his Premier League ambitions, and with Forest, that objective is certainly intact.

If Figueiredo was to depart in January, Forest would probably be forced back into the transfer market.