After breaking into European football for the first time in 30 years last season, the 2025/26 season has been a polar opposite for Nottingham Forest, with the club once again embroiled in a relegation battle.
The Reds are currently seven points clear of the Premier League’s relegation zone and Sean Dyche is tasked with keeping the team in England’s top flight.
He is already the third manager this season after Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou were sacked by owner Evangelos Marinakis.
However, after taking over in October following the sacking of the latter of the aforementioned duo, he is now forced to work with the players he had signed before joining.
This situation could change in the coming weeks, with the January transfer window now in full swing and a number of players already advertising a move to the City Ground.
Forest have made their efforts clear in the transfer market in recent days, making multiple approaches to strengthen their position for the second half of the campaign.
After Arnaud Karimendo’s loan move to Eintracht Frankfurt was confirmed, the signing of a new striker has been on the table, as seen in contract negotiations with Napoli centre-forward Lorenzo Lucca.
The Italian has been the subject of interest from Dyche’s side this week, but a deal could be difficult to secure with Champions League side Benfica also keen on a move for the 6ft 7 star.
He is not the only player to have attracted their attention in recent days, with Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman Jorgen Strand Larsen also being considered as another option.
According to Fooball Insider, the Reds had contacted Rob Edwards’ team about a potential move for the Norwegian international before the window closed.
The report also states that interest in the 25-year-old is a player in demand at this time of year, with two other teams, Everton and Newcastle United, keen to sign the striker.
However, the article also states that the Premier League side are open to letting the player leave, but only if an offer of around £40m is made.
Why Strand Larsen is Forest’s Gibbs-White 2.0
In the summer of 2022, eyebrows were raised across the country when it was reported that Forest had paid £25m, up to £44m, to sign Morgan Gibbs-White.
The attacking midfielder had missed a crucial penalty in the play-off semi-final shootout the previous season before making a big-money move to the City Ground.
But now, three-and-a-half years on, the deal appears to have turned out to be a phenomenal piece of business, with the 25-year-old just shy of 150 appearances across all competitions for the club.
He has also scored 24 goals and provided 31 assists in such a period, with his latest goal securing all three points in this week’s crucial relegation clash against West Ham United.
Gibbs-White has also been involved in a number of stories during his time at Nottingham, including his proposed £60m move to Spurs before penning a new long-term deal at the City Ground in the summer.
Such a move looks like one of the club’s best in recent times, but there is also the possibility that they could emulate the move with the Strand Larsen deal during the ongoing window.
The move will see the club acquire another star player from Wolves, although both players operate in different positions. Gibbs-White has shown that the move could be successful.
The centre-forward’s stats this season highlight the talent he possesses in the forward areas, and the Norwegian could be a solution to the current number nine problem.
Dubbed a “monster” by analyst Connor Holden, Strand Larsen has scored a total of two goals and an assist in the Premier League this season.
While such a record may not be the most eye-catching, he has shown talent in such departments before, as evidenced by his 14-goal tally last season.
The basic statistics this season have certainly been positive, with the Wolves star shooting 1.2 per 90 and hitting 30% on target.
Jorgen Strand Larsen – PL Statistics (2025/26) | |
|---|---|
Statistics (every 90) | tally |
games played | 19 |
goals and assists | 2 |
Accuracy of shots on target | 30% |
advance to the final third | 1.3 |
Successful take-up | 40% |
aerial won | 2.9 |
Aerial success rate | 45% |
shot taken | 1.2 |
Statistics by FBref | |
Strand-Larsen also provides a good all-round threat in attacking areas, completing 1.3 passes into the final third and could help those around him improve on his own record.
His record of 2.9 aerials on a 45% success rate shows his incredible ability through the air, something the Reds lacked in Dyche’s system.
£40 million may seem like a lot for a talisman, but the deal may need to be completed if the club is to maintain its top-flight status until the end of May.
If the 25-year-old makes the move and reaches the level Gibbs-White has offered, such a move would be worth every penny and give fans a reason to be excited about the team again.
Best CF since Wood: Nottingham Forest negotiate contract with ‘clinical’ star
Nottingham Forest are currently in contract negotiations with a striker who could save them from relegation to the Premier League.
