Nottingham Forest are preparing to cancel the loan agreement for Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko within the next twenty-four hours, bringing a premature end to his stint at the City Ground. The Ukrainian international has endured an unhappy first half of the season with the club and has now been informed he is free to depart.
Forest's Strategic Squad Reshuffle
This impending departure is a calculated move by Forest's hierarchy. Terminating Zinchenko's loan will free up a crucial squad slot, allowing the club to secure another loan signing before the January transfer window slams shut. Manager Sean Dyche is keen to bolster his ranks with players capable of aiding the dual challenge of Premier League survival and a continued push in the Europa League.
Active Pursuit of New Talent
Forest's recruitment drive is already in full swing. The club has secured the services of striker Lorenzo Lucca on a loan deal from Napoli for the rest of the campaign. Furthermore, negotiations are ongoing with Crystal Palace for French forward Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Palace value Mateta at approximately £40 million, while Forest's current offer is understood to be around £35 million. The South London club is reportedly seeking a replacement before sanctioning any move, with Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan also having previously registered interest in the 28-year-old attacker.
Further Exits and Defensive Targets
Zinchenko is not the only loan player expected to exit. Fellow loanee Douglas Luiz is also set to depart before the deadline, with his former club Aston Villa exploring the possibility of taking over his loan arrangement from Juventus. Luiz was absent from Forest's 2-0 victory over Brentford, which Dyche attributed to illness.
In defensive reinforcements, Daily Mail Sport revealed earlier this week that Forest have expressed interest in Brighton & Hove Albion captain Lewis Dunk. However, it remains uncertain whether the experienced centre-back would be willing to make the switch to the City Ground at this stage of the season.
This flurry of activity underscores a decisive period for Nottingham Forest as they aim to construct a squad robust enough to meet their ambitious objectives on both domestic and European fronts.
