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...

Signed by Nottingham Forest back in 2017, Zach Clough has not enjoyed the best of times at the City Ground.

The 25-year-old finds himself firmly on the periphery of Chris Hughton's Nottingham Forest team, and it's a feeling he'll have got used to in recent times having not featured under Sabri Lamouchi last season.

The former Bolton Wanderers player's contract expires next summer at Forest, so we could see Forest look to oust the player in January for a cut-price fee rather than allowing him to leave on a free next summer.

So, what next for Zach Clough? Can you see him departing the City Ground in January?

The team here at FLW take a look...

Jacob Potter

Surely he's heading for the exit door?

Clough hasn't been anywhere near the Nottingham Forest first-team in recent seasons, which surely hints that his future lies away from the City Ground.

He's still only 25, and will surely feel that he still has a point to prove in the EFL, but he's not being given the opportunity to do that with the Reds.

A move to a League One club is likely to be the best option for the forward, as he's already shown that he can perform to a high standard, having caught the eye with some impressive displays with Bolton Wanderers in the past.

Chris Hughton already has stronger options available to him in the Forest first-team as well, in Lyle Taylor and Lewis Grabban, so it should be a no-brainer for the Reds to move Clough on permanently in the January transfer window.

 

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Alfie Burns

Surely? But we’ve been saying that for some time.

Clough’s career has nosedived since he moved to Forest and now feels the time he really needs to be moving on.

What good is it for him kicking around at the City Ground like he is?

Of course, it takes a club to come in and take him on loan or permanently, which is easier said than done given he hasn’t played a game in so long.

It’s got to be a priority for Forest to thin their squad down and I imagine Clough will be one player Hughton wants out.

Ned Holmes

He should be looking to move elsewhere but if the past few seasons are anything to go by, it might not materialise.

Clearly, there isn't a future for him at Forest so he needs to leave the club to kick-start his career.

Unfortunately for him, you'd imagine he's going to have to drop down one division at the least and that might be what ultimately holds up this move.

Leaving Forest is likely going to mean a pay cut and a less desirable club but it's a step Clough needs to take.

League Two seems a realistic destination for me but it remains to be seen if he'll be open to it.