Nottingham Forest have an important transfer window ahead of them, especially given the precarious situation the team finds themselves in in the Premier League.
Sean Dyche’s side currently sit just one place above the relegation zone, with their lack of goals undoubtedly one of their biggest problems in the table.
The Reds have scored just 21 points in their first 21 games, with only bottom team Wolverhampton Wanderers scoring less in top-flight games so far.
Morgan Gibbs-White is currently the club’s top scorer in the league this season, with five goals, three more than any other striker in Dyche’s squad.
As a result, signing a new number nine has been a priority for the Reds during this window, with a number of players already on their radar before the window closes.
Nottingham Forest target striker as top target
Forest have been linked with a number of attacking talents in recent weeks, with Wolves star Jorgen Strand Larsen being just one option being considered.
The Norway international is reportedly free to leave Molineux this winter, but only if an interested party offers an asking price of £40 million for his signature.
But Dyche is not alone in his pursuit of the 25-year-old, with the likes of Everton and Newcastle United also keen to sign a deal for the talisman.
He is not the only player currently being chased by the division, with Olympiakos star Mehdi Taremi also attracting interest before the window ends.
According to The Athletic, the Reds have named the Iranian international as their top striker this month after his impressive start in Greece, with him scoring eight goals in 11 games.
Reports suggest the 33-year-old could be considered as a short-term option until the end of the campaign, which may come as a surprise to supporters.
Why Taremi will be the next Wood for Forest after Daichi
Last season, striker Chris Wood had a huge impact on Forest’s ability to break into European football for the first time in 30 years, as evidenced by his incredible goal tally.
The New Zealand international scored a total of 20 goals in the 2024-25 Premier League, going on to break the club’s scoring record in England’s top flight.
However, the 34-year-old has struggled to make the same impact this time around, with a series of injuries limiting him to just eight league appearances and two goals.
He has not been used since mid-October as Dyche failed to utilize the forward in his plans, as they did the last time they were together at Burnley.
Wood’s target man style is exactly the profile the manager is coveting in his 4-2-3-1 system, and the addition of Taremi could make him the next version of a forward.
The Iranian is an experienced option, as evidenced by his 182 appearances for Porto, and the talisman can develop under the coach’s tutelage at the City Ground.
Described as “outstanding” by coach Alessandro Rafa, Taremi has scored eight goals so far this season, shooting 47% on target.
Mehdi Taremi – Statistics for 2025/26 | |
|---|---|
Statistics (every 90) | tally |
games played | 11 |
Number of points scored | 8 |
Accuracy of shots on target | 47% |
shot on target | 1.5 |
Touch the offensive box | 8.8 |
won a duel | 7.1 |
aerial won | 3.6 |
Aerial success rate | 55% |
An opportunity has arisen | 1.5 |
Statistics by FotMob | |
Such numbers show his clinical nature in front of goal, something the Reds struggled with, as evidenced by his meager goal tally in 2025/26.
The Olympiakos star has had a total of 8.8 touches per 90 touches inside the opposition box this season, and then has the poacher-type qualities that Wood previously displayed under Dyche.
However, Taremi has won 7.1 of 90 duels this season, with 3.6 of those wins coming through the air, so his hold-up play could make him a viable option for the club this winter.
Figures like this could make him the perfect option in Dyche’s system, and his 1.5 chances created also allows the forwards around him in the East Midlands to improve their own scoring.
It is unclear whether the transfer will be completed this winter, but it is no exaggeration to say that this move will be unpopular with fans, especially after the departure of Arnaud Karimendo.
But if the Iranians can replicate those numbers at the City Ground, they could be the perfect short-term solution to keep the club in the Premier League until the end of May.
