Nottingham Forest are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to bolster their squad during the January transfer window, with the club reportedly focusing their efforts on adding a new forward. With Evangelos Marinakis, the club’s owner, eager to strengthen the attacking options for the remainder of the 2024/25 Premier League season, Forest are keen to capitalize on their impressive league position. As of now, Forest sit third in the Premier League and have an exciting opportunity to achieve something truly special in the final months of the campaign. With this in mind, the club is actively pursuing potential signings to ensure they remain competitive in the race for European qualification and beyond.
A major target for Forest this month has been Mathys Tel, the highly-rated forward currently at Bayern Munich. Despite being praised by Bayern Munich teammate Harry Kane, it appears that a move for Tel will not materialize in January. The young forward is reportedly committed to continuing his development in Germany and will look to make a decision on his future in the summer. As a result, Forest have shifted their focus elsewhere, with another prominent forward now on their radar: Yoane Wissa.
Brentford’s Yoane Wissa has emerged as a primary target for Forest, and the club has already made a bid of £22 million in an attempt to secure the versatile striker’s services. Wissa has been in stellar form this season, scoring 11 goals in 19 Premier League appearances. Only some of the league’s most prolific forwards, including Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer, Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, Bryan Mbuemo, and Forest’s own Chris Wood, have scored more goals than Wissa. With the 28-year-old enjoying the best form of his career, Forest see him as a potential key addition to their attacking line-up.
Wissa joined Brentford from Lorient in France prior to the club’s inaugural Premier League season and has since become an important figure in Thomas Frank’s squad. With 41 goals in 133 appearances for the Bees, Wissa has proven himself to be a consistent and reliable forward in the top flight, earning the trust of Brentford’s coaching staff. However, with Wissa’s contract set to expire in the summer of 2026 and no new deal on the horizon, Brentford may find themselves at a crossroads, especially with his market value potentially decreasing as he enters the final years of his contract.
Although Forest’s bid for Wissa falls short of Brentford’s valuation, the Reds are determined to land the player this month. According to reports from The Athletic, Brentford have rejected the initial £22 million offer and informed Forest that they must improve their bid in order to secure Wissa’s signature. Forest, eager to add firepower to their attack, will likely need to come up with a more substantial offer if they are to convince Brentford to part ways with their star striker.
Wissa’s potential move to Forest could have significant implications for the future of Taiwo Awoniyi at the club. Awoniyi, who was signed by Forest from Union Berlin for £18 million, enjoyed a productive first season in the Premier League, scoring 11 goals during the 2022/23 campaign. His contributions played a vital role in Forest’s survival in the top flight, and many fans have seen him as a key player in the club’s future. However, with reports linking Awoniyi with a move to West Ham this month, it appears that Forest could be open to parting ways with the Nigerian forward if Wissa arrives.
West Ham are reportedly keen on securing Awoniyi’s services, though it remains unclear whether they are looking to sign him on loan or via a permanent deal. If Forest do bring Wissa in, it would be logical for the club to consider selling Awoniyi, especially given that Wissa is more often deployed as a central striker, and the two players could operate in similar positions. While Forest might look to use Wissa in a wider role at times, it’s likely that he would primarily compete with Awoniyi for a central attacking spot, making the latter’s departure a realistic possibility.
With the January window rapidly closing, Forest are keen to ensure they maintain their strong position in the league. Their impressive run of form, which included a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Southampton on Sunday, has kept them firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish and potential European qualification. Forest will want to continue that momentum, and the addition of a forward like Wissa could be just the boost they need to stay competitive in the second half of the season.
The next few days are likely to be critical in determining whether Forest can secure a breakthrough in their pursuit of Wissa. The club will need to decide whether to raise their offer and meet Brentford’s valuation or whether to pursue alternative targets if negotiations stall. Either way, it is clear that Forest are committed to making signings that will help them maintain their impressive league position and push for a historic finish in the 2024/25 Premier League season.