Latest Nottingham Forest news as Reds head coach Sean Dyche reflects on winter transfer window business
15:49, 04 Feb 2026
Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche
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Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche(Image: Getty)
The end of the winter transfer window came with mixed feelings for Nottingham Forest.
Three new arrivals came through the City Ground doors in striker Lorenzo Lucca, goalkeeper Stefan Ortega and left-back Luca Netz. But the Reds had their eyes on strengthening further before Monday’s cut-off.
A midfielder was on their shopping list, while another forward also would not have gone amiss. When it came to the former, Forest tried for a number of targets - including having three bids rejected for Celtic’s Arne Engels - but did not manage to get a deal over the line.
“Some of that news was real, some wasn't - so that's one thing to clear up,” head coach Sean Dyche said when quizzed on the interest in Engels. “There were a number of situations we felt we could operate in, but I did say before the window that actually getting deals done is not an easy process.
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“I’ve said all along, we have some talented players here; it’s just game-ready talent. Some are maturing into what it means to be in the Premier League, so that work continues. There are some good signs from the group.
“The balance of the group on the whole is OK. If we could have strengthened (further), we would but it is not easy to get deals over the line.
“The only details are the ones you lot make up! I am happy to go with them, I always do!”
Dyche now knows the squad he will have to work with for the remainder of the season as Forest fight to secure Premier League survival and aim to go far in the Europa League. Changes will be made to the squad named for the latter, now clubs can tweak their list for the knockout stages - with Omari Hutchinson and Taiwo Awoniyi having missed the cut previously.
Striking the right balance between competing on two fronts is the challenge for Dyche. No more so than with Friday’s crunch clash away to Leeds United (8pm kick-off) next up.
“Some (of the transfer talk) didn’t make any sense to me,” Dyche added. “Look at the squad and where we need bodies, and there was talk about lining up players where we had enough in there.
“There has to be squad balance and there has to be the right squad on paper that can compete with each other before you worry about the opposition. You don’t want to overload any areas, because once you do that you have got to leave players out and then that changes the feeling in the group. At the minute, the feeling is very good.
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“The game schedule has been difficult. But the positive side of that is lots of players are playing, so that keeps the feel right because nobody really feels they are missing out at any given time.
“We have a couple of players who didn’t make the Europa squad, which was before my time. We’ve got a chance to rejig that, which we will be doing.
“For sure, there were certain situations we missed out on but we made sure we looked after what we’ve got - because we have got talent here. And we made sure we didn’t sign anyone for the sake of it.
“You don’t want to overload your squad either. Getting the right players in the right slots is always a tricky business, but particularly in January.”
Forest’s trio of winter additions could be in line for their first minutes for the club at Elland Road. Ortega might be required to start if Matz Sels does not recover from a groin problem, while Netz could be a contender to cover for the suspended Neco Williams and Lucca could allow Igor Jesus to have a breather.
“A young, up and coming player,” Dyche said of Netz. “He adds balance. We were a bit limited in that position, with natural players that is.
“He is one amongst a number of players here brought in for what comes next. It doesn’t mean he can’t play now, but there is a future thinking behind that.”
On Ortega, he added: “It was a keeper we liked from his history and his experience. Gunny (Angus Gunn) did great when he came in on Sunday. We’ve got good keepers at this club. John Victor getting injured allowed the chance for Ortega to come in. He is enjoying it so far and has mixed in with the group. We will see what decisions we have to make.”
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