SIGNS THAT TRANSFER MARKET MIGHT BE SPARKING INTO LIFE FOR FOREST

THREE weeks into the January transfer window and it would be fair to say it has been something of a slow start for Nottingham Forest.

- By SARAH CLAPSON

Head coach Sean Dyche has always said he expected it to be a relatively quiet month at the City Ground. But with deadline day not too far away, there are signs the window is beginning to spark into life for the Reds.

Rarely is it easy to do business in January. Forest had a busy summer, bringing in 13 new additions at a cost north of £180m, so they were never likely to replicate that with their mid-season trading.

But with work still to do to secure Premier League survival and an ambition of going well in the Europa League, some ins and outs are still on the cards.

This is also Dyche's first opportunity to put his mark on the dressing room, having had a few months now to assess the players he has at his disposal.

The cutoff for doing deals is 7pm on Monday, February 2. With that in mind, it's time to take a look at the Reds' squad as it stands and what is required before the window slams shut.

Goalkeepers

It was the winter window two years ago when Matz Sels arrived on the banks of the Trent. After a spell on the bench, surely the Belgian is back to being the undisputed first-choice for Dyche after his heroics against Arsenal at the weekend?

But what of his backups? Forest have been loosely linked with some goalkeepers but it might be the summer when any tinkering takes place.

Angus Gunn had previously expressed a desire to consider his options in January after finding himself third in the pecking order following his summer switch to the City Ground.

Now John Victor is sidelined following knee surgery, though, the Scot has been promoted to number two so is unlikely to be going anywhere at the moment.

Fullbacks

No surprises about Oleksandr Zinchenko's loan being cut short. The writing was on the wall for the Arsenal man when he was hooked after what Dyche blasted an "unacceptable" first-half display from his team against Wrexham in the FA Cup.