THE “ONE MAN MACHINE”: Nottingham Forest Initiate Contact for Premier League Wildcard as Lorenzo Lucca Alternative
By 247sportcity | Thursday, January 22, 2026
NOTTINGHAM – The lights are burning late at the City Ground as Nottingham Forest’s recruitment team enters a high-stakes race against time. With the February 2nd transfer deadline looming like a shadow over their Premier League survival hopes, the “Tricky Trees” have officially expanded their search for a goalscorer. While the pursuit of Napoli’s Lorenzo Lucca remains active, a new, explosive name has entered the frame.
According to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, Nottingham Forest have established contact over a potential deal for Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor. Described by analysts as a “one-man machine,” the 25-year-old Frenchman is being viewed as a high-octane alternative to the more traditional, physical profile of Lucca. However, in true January fashion, the move is fraught with competition, tactical debate, and significant risk.
The Striker Vacuum: Life After Kalimuendo
The urgency for Nuno Espírito Santo’s side cannot be overstated. The departure of Arnaud Kalimuendo, who recently joined Eintracht Frankfurt on a temporary basis, has left a gaping hole in Forest’s attacking vanguard. With the club currently battling to distance themselves from the bottom three, relying on a depleted strike force is simply not an option.
For weeks, the narrative in Nottingham centered on Lorenzo Lucca. At one stage, a deal for the Napoli giant seemed imminent. However, negotiations have stalled, and concerns are mounting over the Italian’s recent output. Lucca has struggled to replicate his previous form in Serie A this season, managing only a solitary goal for the Naples outfit. This dip in form has forced the Forest hierarchy to look elsewhere, leading them directly to the Stadium of Light.
[Table: The Forest Shortlist — January 2026]
Forest are casting a wide net, comparing Isidor against some of the most prominent names in European football.
| Player | Current Club | League Goals (25/26) | Market Profile |
| Mehdi Taremi | Olympiacos | 8 | The Veteran Finisher |
| Tammy Abraham | Beşiktaş (Loan) | 7 | The Homecoming Hero |
| Wilson Isidor | Sunderland | 4 | The “One-Man Machine” |
| Evan Ferguson | AS Roma (Loan) | 3 | The Prodigy in Transition |
| Lorenzo Lucca | Napoli | 1 | The Struggling Giant |
Who is Wilson Isidor? The Rise and Stall of a “Machine”
Wilson Isidor is a player who thrives on momentum. Last season, he was the heartbeat of a Sunderland side that rampaged through the Championship to secure promotion. Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley famously dubbed him a “machine” on X (formerly Twitter), praising his relentless work rate, explosive pace, and ability to lead the line single-handedly.
The transition to the Premier League initially seemed effortless for the Rennes-born forward. Isidor became a cult hero on Wearside after scoring in Sunderland’s first three home games of the season. His crowning moment came in late October, when he netted a clinical winner in a 2-1 victory over Chelsea.
However, the “machine” has since hit a mechanical fault. Isidor has fallen down the pecking order under the current Sunderland management, failing to find the net since that October night.1 This lack of recent consistency is what makes him a “risky” acquisition for a club in Forest’s position.
The “Lucca vs. Isidor” Debate: Power or Pace?
The Forest fanbase is currently divided on which direction the club should take. On one hand, Lorenzo Lucca represents a proven commodity in a “Top 5” league. Last term, he was a revelation in Serie A, bagging 12 goals and proving he could bully world-class defenders. His height and hold-up play would provide Forest with a focal point they currently lack.
On the other hand, Wilson Isidor offers the “X-factor.” In a team that often relies on quick transitions and counter-attacking bursts, Isidor’s speed is a weapon that Lucca simply does not possess. The Frenchman’s versatility is also a major selling point; he is equally comfortable playing as a central No. 9 or drifting into wide areas to exploit spaces left by marauding full-backs.
A Multilateral Transfer Battle
Forest are not the only ones who have noticed Isidor’s availability. Keith Downie’s report confirms that Everton have also submitted an enquiry, viewing the Frenchman as a low-cost solution to their own scoring drought. Furthermore, several “unnamed clubs from overseas” are reportedly monitoring the situation, ready to pounce if the Premier League suitors hesitate.
As of today, Forest have yet to make a “concrete approach.” The club is reportedly “waiting and considering” their options, aware that a wrong move in January could be the difference between a mid-table finish and a nerve-shredding final day at the bottom of the table.
The Financial Reality: Weak Leagues vs. Top Tiers
Recruitment in January is often about weighing the quality of the league against the raw statistics. While Mehdi Taremi (8 goals) and Tammy Abraham (7 goals) have more impressive tallies than Isidor or Lucca, critics argue that the Greek and Turkish leagues do not prepare a striker for the physical intensity of the English top flight.
This is why Isidor remains so high on the list. He has already proven—albeit in a short burst—that he can score goals in the Premier League. He has faced the likes of Chelsea and come out on top. For Nuno Espírito Santo, that “league readiness” might be worth more than a dozen goals in a “weaker” division.
The Final Verdict: A Calculated Gamble?
Is Wilson Isidor the man to save Nottingham Forest’s season? The data suggests he is a confidence-player who needs a manager to believe in him. Under the lights of the City Ground, with a crowd that rewards effort and “machine-like” intensity, Isidor could rediscover the form that made him the talk of the Championship just 12 months ago.
However, if Forest pass on Lucca to sign an out-of-form Isidor, and the Frenchman’s drought continues into March, the recruitment team will face immense scrutiny. As the February 2nd deadline approaches, the “Tricky Trees” find themselves at a crossroads. Do they go for the physical presence of the Italian, or do they bet on the “One-Man Machine” from Sunderland?
With Everton circling and the clock ticking, Forest must decide quickly. The search for a striker has become a game of tactical chess, and Wilson Isidor is the most unpredictable piece on the board.