Four months, 19 matches, and three different managers—it’s been a rollercoaster of a season for Nottingham Forest. Currently, Sean Dyche is tasked with steering the ship back on course.

Initially, Nuno Espirito Santo’s departure set the stage for a disastrous winless streak under Ange Postecoglou. However, Dyche has rejuvenated the team, securing four victories and a draw in his first eight games, lifting Forest away from the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Nuno’s new team, West Ham, possesses the financial prowess to beef up their squad in January. Forest, on the other hand, must consider their upcoming Europa League knockout stage ambitions and cannot afford to remain passive.

1. What steps should Forest take in January?

The key is to support Dyche by acquiring the players he deems necessary. He believes the team needs strengthening, particularly through the center, and sources reveal he’s not entirely satisfied with the current full-back options, with Ola Aina still sidelined due to injury.

Last summer’s recruitment efforts were quite haphazard, and with a narrower window this time around, Forest must exercise caution. They need to avoid the reckless spending spree that occurred at the start of this season, which was under the guidance of two different managers with differing squad-building philosophies.

Nottingham Forest need to give Sean Dyche the sort of players he wants in order to stay away from the relegation zone 

2. Do they have money to spend?

Forest certainly plan to invest. The relegation zone is too close for comfort and owner Evangelos Marinakis has not given up hope of winning the Europa League and winning an express ticket to the Champions League.

But how much they will have to spend is unclear.

This is purely speculative, but Forest could choose to invest again now and still abide by financial rules by making a key sale or two before the June 30 cut-off point.

Both Elliot Anderson and Murillo have admirers across Europe – the Manchester clubs have both been linked to Anderson but may wait until the summer to test Forest’s resolve properly.

Both Elliot Anderson and Murillo have admirers across Europe

3. Who are they targeting?

As revealed by Daily Mail Sport last month, Brighton youngster Jack Hinshelwood is on Forest’s list. Hinshelwood can play either in midfield or at right back and has Premier League experience, meaning he would be able to slot in straightaway.

There was also interest in Albion skipper Lewis Dunk, though that never looked a realistic deal.

If Chris Wood does not start to make progress soon in his recovery from a knee injury, Forest may look for forwards to share the goalscoring load.

Top scorer Igor Jesus has seven goals, but only one of them has come in the Premier League, with no Forest player above three goals in the competition.

While there have been outbursts – most memorably in 3-0 wins over Liverpool and Tottenham – only woeful Wolves have scored fewer than Forest’s 18 this season.

Brighton youngster Jack Hinshelwood is on Forest’s list. Hinshelwood can play either in midfield or at right back and has Premier League experience

Igor Jesus is Forest’s top scorer with seven, but only one of them has come in the Premier League

4. How have their summer signings fared so far?

A mixed bag. Jesus has been excellent and Douglas Luiz – when he has been fit enough – has looked good. Dan Ndoye and Omari Hutchinson have shown promise too. The picture is less rosy elsewhere.

James McAtee has made no impression whatsoever after joining for £25million from Manchester City, making only one Premier League start, while Nicolo Savona and Oleksandr Zinchenko have not convinced fully – just like Arnaud Kalimuendo and Dilane Bakwa, though the latter has struggled with injury.

Yet all judgments must be qualified. Forest have had three head coaches already this season and that makes settling into a new club very difficult.

Oleksandr Zinchenko has yet to convince since his summer move from Arsenal

Omari Hutchinson is starting to come into his own after a slow start since joining from Ipswich town

5. And who might leave?

Kalimuendo has admirers in France and Italy and could be allowed to leave – but not if Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi continue to struggle for fitness.

Keep an eye on McAtee, too. The England Under 21s international does not seem the sort of player Dyche trusts and it is not hard to imagine him moving elsewhere, either to Germany or perhaps a club targeting promotion from the Championship.