Nottingham Forest have made an enquiry for Bournemouth winger Marcus Tavernier, but the Cherries do not plan to sell the 26-year-old. (Mail), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Pat Riddell
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesNottingham Forest haven't exactly covered themselves in glory this season.
On their third manager of the campaign, the focus has switched sharply to Sean Dyche in recent weeks - the impressive job of steadying the ship almost forgotten in the wake of a bad run of five losses in six games.
Friday's defeat by Wrexham all rested on that first-half performance, the manager clearly angry at the fringe players for failing to step up.
Is it right to publicly admonish many of last summer's signings? Maybe, maybe not… either way it points to recent recruitment not living up to expectations.
Arnaud Kalimuendo has already been shipped out to Eintracht Frankfurt on loan - presumably with a replacement striker arriving soon - while the others may well still come good; albeit not in time for this season.
With the exception of Igor Jesus, Omari Hutchinson and Nicolo Savona, the new arrivals have not exactly strengthened a squad that had hoped to compete in the league and three cup competitions.
Just the Europa League now remains alongside a struggling Premier League campaign and Dyche is understandably under pressure.
Admittedly, much of it is not of his making - and many of our troubles existed before his arrival in October - but that doesn't excuse the results and performances in recent weeks.
Forest are still vulnerable from set-pieces, struggle to look threatening in front of goal and lack any distinct style of play.
Players seem to lack urgency and motivation. Surely that is all down to the manager?
That said, do we ignore the impressive 3-0 wins over Liverpool and Spurs?
The defensive discipline, midfield dominance and attacking flair of those games occurred before the downturn - which coincided with the departure of Ibrahim Sangare to Afcon.
Dyche is dealing with the turmoil of what has gone before, the upheaval unsettling for everyone on the pitch, on the terraces and in the boardroom.
No, you can't excuse the poor form.
But you can hope that things will turn around again. He might not last beyond the summer at the City Ground but there is evidence that Dyche is more than capable of delivering the basics.
But he, the players and the fans all need to pull through this together.
Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external
Pundits Dion Dublin and Rob Green join host Jason Mohammad to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's FA Cup ties.
And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
We asked for your thoughts after Nottingham Forest's FA Cup defeat by Championship side Wrexham on Friday.
Here are some of your comments:
Martin: Happy to go out fighting and scoring goals. Good goals scored by Wrexham. Good saves and not bad misses in the shootout. Don't criticise Igor Jesus when all you have to do is put a good cross in and he'll nod it in. As soon as the dead wood is cleared up, Forest will have a good team.
Tom: That loss is a direct reflection of our awful summer recruitment. Our strength in depth, which that was supposed to address and help us in games like this, is weak as a kitten, and certain squad players need to vastly improve.
Mark: Some of the players do not deserve to wear the shirt again. The fans, along with the owner, want to see the ambition we are making off the pitch a reality on the pitch, but if the same ambition is not realised on the pitch, what's the point of a larger stadium? We need to get rid of those who are not good enough and replace them with players who want to win, but most of all, we need to get in a quality striker. It's taken a long time to get here - please don't throw it away now. Congratulations, Wrexham, on beating a very poor Premier League side.
Sean: Incredibly disappointing. Admittedly, many of these players aren't getting many opportunities in the first team for various reasons, but you'd expect them to either put a claim in for being in the first team or put themselves in the shop to possibly move on. That first half was abysmal, and we only came alive once our established players were on the pitch. Once again, we find ourselves with too many players but not enough quality in depth. At least this is one fewer cup run to worry about so we can focus on Europe and survival.
Aaron: I was never a fan of Sean Dyche, but his tactics are awful. Long balls all the time, which is skipping our talented midfielders, who are proven and can control games. Since coming in, all our players have become worse. Sack him now while we have the chance.
Sam Drury
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesThe three goals at Wrexham meant Forest have now conceded 46 in all competitions this season, with bottom club Wolves the only side to have let in more among Premier League clubs - and only one more at that.
But with his side 17th in the league - seven points clear of the bottom three - Dyche's focus will now be solely on keeping Forest in the top flight after an evening to forget in north Wales.
"Forest were nowhere near good enough in the first half," former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"If they had played the whole game like they did the second they would have won convincingly, but full credit must go to Wrexham.
"Forest back to the drawing board and the task of trying to stay in the Premier League."
Speaking on TNT Sports, ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid winger Steve McManaman added: "The story tonight is Wrexham and the journey they have been on with the new owners. Nottingham Forest played their part in this story.
"The first 45 minutes, they may as well have not turned up. That is really disappointing because Sean Dyche trusted some of those players to do a job for him and they didn't.
"He had to rely on some of his big boys. They went to extra-time and that is something he didn't want, so he will be going crazy in the dressing room."
Image source, Getty ImagesNottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche, speaking to TNT Sports after the FA CUp defeat to Wrexham: "The first half was completely unacceptable.
"I let the players know and there are certain individuals that certainly know and they have to look in the mirror.
"But the strangeness of football, some players that came on in the second half were a credit and we went on and looked like a Premier League side.
"You can't do that in the first half, it's completely unacceptable. It's unacceptable to me, but I said you have to look in the mirror because that's unacceptable to the badge as well.
"They all knock on the door and say, 'why aren't I playing?'. Well the evidence is quite honestly there for some, not for all.
"I could have taken all of them off [at half-time].
"The tempo, the mentality to take the game on was lacking so badly in the first half.
"Slow, methodical, we have done a lot of work on that. There was basically no intent, no real desire to make a difference. Second half, the changes were terrific.
"The facts of the matter are we've got to make changes. They showed their hand and won't be knocking on my door saying, 'why aren't I playing?' again, that's for sure, that first-half group."
Did you know?
Nottingham Forest have conceded 46 goals in all competitions this season – the only Premier League side to concede more is Wolves (47).
You can read more from Dyche and analysis of the defeat by Wrexham here
Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.
What did you make of Forest's display?
Come back on Saturday for a selection of your replies
Phil Parkinson has made four changes to the Wrexham side that started Sunday's 2-1 win at Derby County.
Dan Scarr, Liberato Cacace, Ollie Rathbone and George Dobson all come in, with Max Cleworth, Matty James, Josh Windass and George Thomason all being replaced.
Cleworth and James miss out on the matchday squad altogether.
Wrexham XI: Okonkwo; Scarr, Hyam (C), Doyle; Longman, Dobson, Sheaf, Cacace; Rathbone, Broadhead, Smith.
Subs: Burton, Coady, McClean, Barnett, Thomason, O'Brien, Ashfield, Windass, Rodriguez.
Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche makes a total of eight changes from the win at West Ham United on Tuesday night.
Matz Sels captains the visitors tonight, while Igor Jesus and Omari Hutchinson are the other two men to retain their places in the side from the triumph over the Hammers.
It's a totally new back four, so it's clear to see that Dyche has his focus on the league.
Nottingham Forest: Sels (C); Savona, Jair Cunha, Morato, Zinchenko, Douglas Luiz, McAtee, Hutchinson, Ddoye, Bakwa, I. Jesus.
Subs: Gunn; Williams, Murillo, Hudson-Odoi, Awoniyi, Gibbs-White, Domínguez, Milenković, Abbott.
There are four third-round ties in the FA Cup on Friday, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
MK Dons v Oxford United - BBC Three Counties Radio and BBC Radio Oxford
Port Vale v Fleetwood - BBC Radio Stoke
Preston v Wigan - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Wrexham v Nottingham Forest - BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Nottingham
All kick-offs 19:30 GMT
Follow all of the action and reaction here
And find out how to follow the FA Cup across the BBC this weekend here
You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Preston v Wigan" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Wrexham v Nottingham Forest".
Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds
Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City's Ruben Dias should have received a second yellow card against Nottingham Forest, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel has ruled.
Forest manager Sean Dyche was critical of the officials over some "bizarre" decisions in his side's late 2-1 defeat.
Portugal centre-back Dias was already on a caution when he clipped the heels of Igor Jesus in the first minute of the second half.
Referee Rob Jones opted not to take no disciplinary action, which the panel voted 4:1 was the incorrect decision.
The panel ruled: "Dias moves across the back of Jesus and clearly trips him, stopping a promising attack" and that "a second caution should have been issued on this basis."
The game was goalless at the time but City took the lead two minutes later.
After the game, Dyche claimed that Rayan Cherki's 83rd-minute winner should have been ruled out for a push on Morgan Gibbs-White by Nico O'Reilly, saying: "Whichever way you look at it it's a foul."
But the panel disagreed, unanimously voting that "the contact made was deemed below the threshold for a foul".
It is the second time this season Jones has failed to show a player a second yellow card. The panel voted he should also have sent off Newcastle United's Malick Thiaw at Bournemouth in September.
Forest have past history with Jones, too. In December 2023, he wrongly showed a second yellow card to Willy Boly against Bournemouth, and he should not have handed Gibbs-White a second booking at Brighton in September 2024.
Ian Mitchelmore
BBC Sport Wales
Image source, Getty ImagesChampionship side Wrexham head into the cup contest against Nottingham Forest having won four successive league matches in the second tier for the first time in their history.
Such has been their improvement in the Championship, since losing 3-1 to Queens Park Rangers on 13 September, only leaders Coventry City and Ipswich Town have gained more points than Wrexham's total of 36 points from their past 21 games.
"I think we've evolved into the division," said boss Phil Parkinson. "It always takes a while with new players and existing players to find their way in the league.
"But I feel we're in a good place at the moment and I think the Derby game epitomised how we've been playing and we're obviously enjoying the challenge of the division."
Sunday's 2-1 win at Derby County moved the Red Dragons to within a point of the play-off places, so it's fair to say the mood is a positive one in north Wales at present.
After a memorable 2024-25 campaign for Nottingham Forest, this season has been far more of a struggle, and there are vulnerabilities for Wrexham to exploit.
Only Crystal Palace (-11.68) and Wolves (-4.62) are under-performing on their expected goals (xG) by more than Forest (-4.06) are, which shows they are struggling to put away the chances they are making.
At 8.08%, Forest have the second-worst shot conversion rate in the top-flight, while only Wolves (15) have scored fewer Premier League goals than Forest (21) this season.
They have also conceded 12 goals after 76 minutes in the top flight, more than any other side, and Forest have failed to score in 10 of their 21 Premier League games this term, with no side having a worse record.
The positive for Dyche's men at least is that they ended their four-game losing run by beating West Ham 2-1 on Tuesday.
It was the first time Forest have come from behind to win in the Premier League since being promoted in 2022.
Crucially, it moved them seven points clear of the relegation zone to ease the nerves ahead of their break from league action.
Money-bags Wrexham have picked up a bit of form in the Championship over the Christmas period and moved within the fringe of the play-offs.
Nottingham Forest got a huge win at West Ham on Tuesday and Sean Dyche will want to carry that momentum on here.
I suspect this will be tight, because Wrexham are unbeaten in 10 games at home, but Forest should have a little bit too much quality.
Sutton's prediction: 0-2
BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut and Show More Football podcast is back with a new episode looking at a big Premier League win for Nottingham Forest.
Hosts David Jackson and Colin Fray reflect on Forest's victory over West Ham, a result that sees the Reds stay 17th in the table but open up a seven-point gap to the bottom three.
The pair also discuss the impact of Arnaud Kalimuendo's exit and preview Friday's FA Cup tie with Wrexham.
Listen to the full episode here
Explore all Nottingham Forest content on BBC Sounds
Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist
Data from Opta (XPTS = expected points); % is percentage chance of relegation
We have only just gone past the halfway stage of the Premier League season, so how much can really be read into predictions?
For supporters of Wolves, Burnley and West Ham, they will be hoping not very much.
Leeds and Nottingham Forest, however? They would breathe a bit more easily.
Throughout the season, Opta's "supercomputer" is continually predicting how the final table might look and what percentage chance clubs have of winning the title, finishing top four, in Europe and also relegation.
But for those teams currently occupying the relegation spots in the Premier League, they may want to avert their gaze.
Having only just picked up their first win last weekend, most Wolves fans will have been settled on the fact they would be returning to the Championship come the end of the season.
And Opta's predictions would suggest the same.
Of course, 14 points off 17th place with 17 games to go, it is still very much mathematically possible to save themselves - and with five points in three games there has been an uptick in form - but with a predicted chance of survival of just 0.73%, it would take something incredibly special.
Burnley's return to the top flight has not been the easiest.
While the Clarets have been picking up points, it has not been at the rate needed to get themselves out of the danger zone.
Another point was accrued against Manchester United on Wednesday night, taking them one point behind West Ham in 18th but, with Nottingham Forest's win over the Hammers on Tuesday, it still leaves Burnley eight points off safety.
Like Wolves, Opta's statistics and simulations suggest Scott Parker's side will be back in the second tier next term, with just a 6.59% survival chance unless they can start turning more draws into wins and eking out points from the narrow defeats.
As for West Ham, the defeat by Forest could prove to be one of the most damaging for their season.
A classic six-pointer, a win could have seen them close the gap to just one point. Instead, it sits at seven and sees them with a now 88.76% chance of relegation.
The change of manager from Graham Potter to Nuno Espirito Santo is yet to have the desired effect and both the head coach and the ownership are coming under pressure from the fanbase.
It was pressure that Daniel Farke was feeling at Leeds before their turnaround in results that has left them with just a 7.49% chance of relegation, while Sean Dyche may once again be steering a team to Premier League safety with a less than 10% chance of dropping out of the top flight.
But this is the Premier League, and teams have upset the odds before.
Nottingham Forest's Brazil centre-back Murillo, 23, is an option for AC Milan, who are looking to bolster their backline. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
Pundits Danny Murphy and Stephen Warnock are on hand to bring you the action and talking points from the nine Premier League fixtures so far this week.
Nick Mashiter
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesStriker Arnaud Kalimuendo has joined Eintracht Frankfurt on an initial loan deal.
The Bundesliga club have an option to make the move permanent for about £23m.
The 23-year-old moved to the City Ground from Rennes in the summer for £26m but has struggled to make an impact.
He scored twice, both in the Europa League, in 14 appearances, but was behind Igor Jesus after Chris Wood was ruled out in October with a knee injury.
Forest are keen on Wolves forward Jorgen Strand Larsen as they look for more firepower in January. Sean Dyche's side are seven points above the relegation zone after Tuesday's win at fellow strugglers West Ham.
Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krosche said: "In Arnaud Kalimuendo, we're signing a forward who, despite his young age, has performed at a consistently high level in Ligue 1.
"He has pace, makes runs behind the defence and is a clinical finisher, and he also works really hard off the ball.
"It was important for us that he was not only a very good fit in terms of the football he plays, but also in terms of his character.
"Arnaud has the ambition to keep developing, and we are confident that he has the environment here to exploit his full potential."
Melissa Edwards
BBC Sport journalist
Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Friday's FA Cup third-round tie against Wrexham at Stok Cae Ras (kick-off 19:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Arnaud Kalimuendo has reportedly been linked with a loan move to Eintracht Frankfurt this January transfer window and Dyche believes the deal for the striker is a "very good one". He said: "It was made clear when I got here about the trading model and the nature of the club so we're waiting on that situation. We're obviously into other situations, I hope that's apparent because I've made it clear, and the owners made it clear back then, that they support the situation. We need the right players at the right time and the club felt the next deal with him is a very good one for the club so they're looking at that one."
On any possible incomings: "You can be as optimistic as you want until the pen's on the paper and it's done - but, yeah, there's certainly ongoing conversations of situations, that's for sure. The club have been very open with me and my staff - I don't know how it's been previously but I've spoken to them about what we think."
On moving seven points away from the relegation zone after victory over West Ham: "We've done a lot of work since we got here. We were two points in it [relegation] and now we're seven points out of it, so it's a pretty big shift over the games we've had. Nine points out of the past eight games doesn't seem a lot, but when you look at the actual table and the teams in that period, it's hard to get points in the Premier League. So to turn that gap around has been pleasing."
Forest disagreed with some refereeing decisions in the defeat by Manchester City in December and requested the VAR audio from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). Dyche thinks the matter has since been resolved: "We're only looking for a level playing field. It was very fair of them to look at it and I've had an open conversation with the club and Howard Webb [chief refereeing officer] about it and everyone's decided the right things pretty fairly. There's no win or lose in the moments, just fairness. In any given game we're looking for consistency in the refereeing and in the decisions. It's a fair outcome but it doesn't change what happened because we might have got a point here or there - but it means in the future, these things can help in the wider picture."
He continued: "Despite popular belief, I am a big fan of referees. It's a very difficult job and, as I've said, I don't know why they have to talk to everyone and all that - just let them get on with refereeing and do their job."
On facing Wrexham: "I know [Phil] Parkinson - what a job he's done. I think it's over 1,000 games now, which is incredible in itself. A relatively young manager at 58. I've seen his career from afar for a long time now. I've played against him, I've seen his teams have great success, and he's been more or less successful everywhere he's been. He's certainly done a brilliant job there - in positive circumstances but it's still quite interesting circumstances with a lot of noise off the pitch. He just keeps under the radar and keeps his team going."
He added: "They've had some wins on the trot now - I think it's four - so they're a good outfit and we've got to be ready for it. It's a tough industry but you've got to learn to love the toughness and some of the hard takes - and also the good stuff when it comes your way. There's a good feeling around the camp after going down to West Ham and winning that."
Listen to Friday's match coverage from 19:30 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds
Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesHow can a player be offside when the ball has been played to them by an opposition player?
You can understand why fans might be confused, especially so for West Ham's 'goal' on Tuesday night, disallowed by the VAR for offside, in their 2-1 home loss to Nottingham Forest.
Hammers winger Crysencio Summerville touched the ball forward, Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic made a block tackle and that sent the ball to West Ham's Taty Castellanos. Ten seconds later, West Ham thought Summerville had scored.
An offside phase is locked in by the final touch of a team-mate, even if that is not a pass. When Summerville played the ball, Castellanos was offside.
It then comes down to what is called a 'deliberate play' by a defender, as this resets offside and would allow the goal to count.
But the lawmakers do not consider a 'deliberate play' as an intention to touch the ball. There must be the realistic expectation of a controlled outcome.
Milenkovic making a block or a tackle does not count because he did not know where the ball might end up.
A 'deliberate play' that goes to an opponent is usually a misplaced pass or a skewed clearance.
The logic is an attacker should not be allowed to gain an advantage from being in an offside position when a defender is simply doing their job – and not making a mistake.
The most high profile disallowed goal came in the 2022 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool.
Madrid forward Federico Valverde touched the ball and both Ibrahima Konate and Fabinho made block tackles. The ball squirmed to Karim Benzema who scored, but he was offside from Valverde's touch.
Such offside decisions are always controversial for the team that suffers, but this is how the lawmakers intend it to be applied.
Nick Mashiter
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesIt did not matter how Nottingham Forest won at West Ham. That they did was the only thing that mattered.
Tuesday's 2-1 victory, courtesy of Morgan Gibbs-White's late penalty, was not a classic but it did not have to be.
Forest now have a seven-point gap to the third-bottom Hammers - instead of the one point it stood at as they trailed at half time. That is the only real stat that matters now.
Boss Sean Dyche remained typically measured afterwards: "There is still work to be done, My job is to go through that noise and see the facts of it."
He is not wrong. The bottom three may look cut adrift but Forest can still be fragile, as their four-game losing run prior to Tuesday showed.
Dyche never used the word perspective after Saturday's defeat at Aston Villa but his comments were laced with it.
Forest had tightened up and improved under him, only for sloppy mistakes and individual errors to halt the recovery and bring the defeats that had threatened to drag them back into the relegation zone.
Friday's FA Cup tie at in-form Championship side Wrexham, and the return to Europa League action with games against Braga and Ferencvaros this month, adds to Forest's workload and only complicates their survival bid.
Games with Arsenal and Brentford in the Premier League complete the month and Forest, as they have proved, can slip.
As Dyche says, the hard work is not over.
