Why Nottingham Forest should sign Che Adams on loan in January

According to The Athletic (h/t Nottinghamshire Live), Nottingham Forest are exploring the possibility of securing the services of Southampton forward Che Adams on loan during the January transfer window. 

Reds boss Sabri Lamouchi must bolster his attack during the mid-season trading period and the Frenchman has now set his sights on Adams, who earned a £15 million move to Southampton from Birmingham City this past summer. (Athletic h/t Nottinghamshire Live)

Forest have been linked with a host of strikers ahead of the upcoming transfer window, including Newcastle United hitman Dwight Gayle and forgotten Crystal Palace star, Connor Wickham.

Che Adams has now become the latest attacker to join the shortlist of potential targets at the City Ground. (h/t Nottinghamshire Live)

Adams, who shot to prominence with Oadby Town and Ilkeston in the non-league arena and featured for Sheffield United in the League One earlier in his career, finished the 2018-19 season as one of the highest goal contributors in the EFL Championship. 

The 23-year-old plundered 22 goals for Birmingham City in the previous campaign and that was enough to warrant a coveted move to the top-flight, with the Saints forking out a handsome ransom to offer Adams a chance to take his game to the next level. 

However, Adams currently finds himself down the pecking order at St. Mary’s after a poor start to the campaign.

Adams is yet to start a league game for Southampton since mid-September and his limited involvement over the past couple of months has prompted Nottingham Forest to try and lure him to the City Ground on a loan spell in January. 

Nottingham Forest need to prioritize the recruitment of a new striker during the mid-season trading period to add more depth and quality to their attack. To that end, Che Adams ticks all the boxes as a goalscorer with proven pedigree in the Championship.

The Reds have relied way too heavily on veteran Lewis Grabban to deliver the goods in front of the goal. While he has racked up 10 goals so far, Lamouchi needs depth beyond his first-choice striker. 

Wolves loanee Rafa Mir has struggled to make an impact at the City Ground while Welsh starlet Brennan Johnson is still an unproven commodity at this level, meaning that a potential injury to Grabban in the second half of the campaign could completely derail Forest’s surge for promotion.

Verdict

To that end, someone like Adams would be the perfect man to provide cover and competition for Grabban while also adding another dimension to the club’s attack with his pace and power.

Forest certainly need more cutting edge in their strike force and the 23-year-old’s previous goalscoring exploits in the Championship makes him a risk-free option for the Reds.

The former non-league star has struggled to cut the mustard in the Premier League so far and a temporary move back down to the Championship would be ideal for him to regain his confidence and start afresh.

More Nottingham Forest News

• Why Dwight Gayle could be a big boost for Nottingham Forest in January
• Why Nottingham Forest should beat Leeds United to sign Renaud Emond
• Why Connor Wickham is a gamble that Nottingham Forest can’t afford

All in all, Che Adams moving on loan to the City Ground in January might go a long way towards ensuring a top-six finish for Nottingham Forest.