Nottingham Forest Suffer Transfer Blow As Everton Rocked By Injury

Nottingham Forest have suffered a transfer blow after Jack Grealish’s injury disrupted their January plans. 

David Moyes will be without the England international for up to three months after he suffered a stress fracture in his foot following the victory over his boyhood club Aston Villa.

While the injury news will come as a huge blow for Everton, it’s also likely to have a knock-on effect for Sean Dyche and Nottingham Forest.

Dwight McNeil Transfer To Nottingham Forest On Hold

Forest boss Dyche had been looking to reunite with his former player McNeil to bolster his squad in a bid to avoid Premier League relegation.

The duo worked together at Burnley and Everton, and McNeil finished as the club’s top scorer with seven goals at Goodison Park in the 2022/23 campaign.

McNeil, 26, has struggled for consistent gametime under Moyes this season, starting just six Premier League matches.

Reports claimed a January move for McNeil and Nottingham Forest was a distinct possibility, but Grealish’s injury will seriously hamper those chances.

Everton already have a threadbare squad, and Moyes will unlikely sanction the player’s move, given that options on the left of midfield are already limited.

Iliman Ndiaye can play there but is more suited to the right wing, while Tyler Dibling could also look for minutes in Grealish’s absence.

Forest currently sit five points clear of West Ham above relegation and are in the market to strengthen this month.

A striker remains towards the top of the priority list, and Swansea’s Zan Vipotnik is emerging as an option.

Ruben Vargas Arrival May Facilitate Dwight McNeil move

Forest’s only hope of signing McNeil could come in the form of Sevilla winger Ruben Vargas. 

Moyes could step up his chase of the 27-year-old to help provide competition for places in attacking midfield in Grealish’s absence.

Last month, Spanish publication ABC Deportes reported that Everton were chasing the winger in a £13million deal.

The left winger has scored three and assisted four in 13 LaLiga games this season, but is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The Toffees are also in the market for a new striker and have identified Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor as a potential option.

Reports suggest Everton have made contact with their Premier League rivals to assess whether they would be willing to allow Isidor to leave the club this January.