Nottingham Forest have reportedly been approached over a potential January move for a Arsenal forward described as an “extremely strong” striker.
The Tricky Trees could be forced to strengthen their squad when the winter transfer window opens following a disappointing beginning to Oliver Glasner’s tenure at the City Ground. The Austrian has managed just six points from his first nine Premier League fixtures since arriving from Crystal Palace.
Forest have recorded only one league victory this season, which came against Aston Villa away from home in September. Their poor performances have also raised questions about Glasner’s decision to leave Selhurst Park for Nottingham.
The situation has become increasingly concerning, particularly after Forest struggled against newly-promoted opponents Coventry City and Ipswich Town. They managed only one point from those encounters, drawing 1-1 against Ipswich at Portman Road towards the end of October.
Their difficulties continued with a 2-0 defeat against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, prompting Glasner to deliver a strong assessment of his team’s performances.
The Forest manager admitted that losing four of their previous five matches was unacceptable and insisted that significant changes were necessary.
Glasner also acknowledged that he might have made too many compromises since taking charge, promising to establish a clearer footballing identity and communicate his expectations directly to the players.
However, if the former Crystal Palace boss cannot improve the performances of his existing squad, January reinforcements could become increasingly important.
One area that may require particular attention is the attacking department, with Forest reportedly being offered an opportunity to bring in another center-forward.
According to TEAMtalk, Nottingham Forest has been contacted by representatives of Folarin Balogun, who have presented the club with an opportunity to secure the American international’s services during the January transfer window.
AS Monaco are reportedly open to selling the former Arsenal striker after previously attempting to move him to Everton on deadline day in a proposed £40 million deal.
Balogun’s representatives have also reportedly approached several other Premier League clubs, including Manchester United and Leeds United, as they look to find a new destination for the forward.
Monaco’s willingness to consider his departure is somewhat surprising given the 25-year-old’s impressive contributions for both club and country.
The American has continued to demonstrate his attacking qualities, earning recognition from international teammate Tyler Adams, who highlighted his physical strength, movement, and ability to leave defenders behind.
Adams explained that although Balogun is not particularly tall, his strength makes him difficult for opposition center-backs to handle. He also praised the striker’s ability to spin away from defenders and use his pace to create dangerous attacking situations.
Balogun’s international record further demonstrates his quality, having scored 12 goals in 31 appearances for the United States, including three strikes across four World Cup matches.
His performances at club level have also been encouraging, with the forward recording 18 goal contributions in 30 Ligue 1 appearances last season.
Those numbers underline his potential and suggest that he could offer Nottingham Forest an important attacking upgrade if a January agreement can be reached.
With Forest struggling to find consistent goals from their current forward options, Balogun could represent an interesting addition to Glasner’s squad as the club attempts to improve its Premier League position.
However, Monaco’s reported £40 million valuation and competition from other interested clubs could complicate any potential deal.
