Dyche expects Forest´s transfer backing to solve striker situation

Sean Dyche and Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis are “clear” on their need for a striker in the January transfer window.

Chris Wood has undergone surgery for a knee issue, while Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi have struggled to deliver for Forest, who sit seven points clear of the Premier League relegation zone.

Nicolas Dominguez’s strike and a late penalty from Morgan Gibbs-White secured a 2-1 victory over relegation rivals West Ham last time out, but Dyche acknowledged the need for more options up top.

Jesus has just one goal in 20 top-flight appearances this term, with Awoniyi yet to score in seven league outings – Wood (two in eight) has more than the pair, though Gibbs-White’s five are the most of any player in a struggling Forest attack.

And Dyche is clearly targeting arrivals in that department this month, with the Forest manager – who ended a four-game losing streak in the league on Tuesday – making his intentions known.

“When I got here, the trading model and the nature of the club was made clear. We’re waiting on that situation. We’re obviously into other situations, I would hope that’s apparent,” said Dyche in his press conference ahead Friday’s FA Cup clash away to Wrexham.

“I have made it clear and the owner has made it clear to me he will support the situation. We still need the right players at the right time, and that was a deal the club has done, which they felt is a very good one for the club, so they are looking at that now.”

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Arnaud Kalimuendo arrived from Rennes in the last transfer window, but the French striker has been limited to just 89 minutes in league action this campaign.

Dyche expects the 23-year-old to join Eintracht Frankfurt in a loan deal that would be “very good” in a financial sense for Forest, and potentially allow for more incoming activity.

Only struggling Burnley (20) have scored fewer Premier League goals this season than Forest’s 21, with Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen said to be among potential targets.

“The club have been very open with me and my staff. I don’t know how it’s been previously, but they have spoken to us about what we think. We have got lots of games in the Premier League under our belts, not just me but my staff as well,” Dyche added.

“They have been very open on the scouting side. We’ve had meetings with the scouting units and the analysis units to talk about players, and that has been ongoing for the last couple of months.

“You can be as optimistic as you want but until the pen is on the paper and it is done then you never know. But there are certainly ongoing conversations about the situations, that’s for sure.”