Sean Dyche plans January striker move at Nottingham Forest

Sean Dyche has rarely hidden behind euphemism. When a squad has a flaw, he tends to point at it directly, acknowledging the reality before trying to bend it in his favour. At Nottingham Forest, that clarity has arrived early in the January window, with Dyche openly identifying the need for a striker as his most pressing concern.

Forest’s attacking options have been narrowed by circumstance rather than design. Chris Wood remains sidelined after knee surgery, while Arnaud Kalimuendo has been allowed to join Eintracht Frankfurt on loan, a decision driven as much by market opportunity as squad balance. That leaves Brazilian forward Igor Jesus as the only recognised striker available, a situation Dyche has little interest in dressing up.

Striker shortage shapes Forest thinking

Dyche admitted the situation plainly. “The obvious one is the striker area because we are a bit short there. The club felt it was a really good deal for Kalimuendo to go out.

“We are looking at various options to bring in. That’s the obvious one that jumps off the page.”

For Nottingham Forest, this is not simply about adding depth. It is about restoring functionality to a side that risks becoming predictable without variation up front. Dyche’s teams have often thrived on structure and work rate, but even the most disciplined system needs a focal point. Without one, Forest risk drifting into games rather than shaping them.

January market demands flexibility

The January transfer window rarely rewards idealism. Dyche understands this as well as anyone, shaped by years of mid season recalibration in the Premier League. He acknowledged the peculiarities of the market, where availability often outweighs long term planning.

“You’ve got to be ready for the shifting sands of the market. It’s an unusual market, or a slightly different market, in the January window than it is in the summer.”

This sense of adaptation runs through Dyche’s approach at Nottingham Forest. He is not searching for perfection, but for suitability, a player who can arrive quickly, understand the demands, and contribute without a prolonged bedding in period.

Alignment behind the scenes

Recruitment, particularly in January, lives or dies on internal clarity. Dyche stressed the importance of cohesion between ownership, executives, and coaching staff, an area Forest have sometimes struggled to balance in recent seasons.

“We’ve got to be proactive where we can be and reactive if things change. I think the club are well aware of that.

“I’ve had a good meeting from the owner all the way through the structure about what we think we’ve got and what we think we need.”

The challenge, as Dyche noted, lies in execution. “It’s aligning the right people and getting the deals done, which is often the hardest part, the actual process of getting the deal done and getting the player here.”

For Nottingham Forest, the coming weeks will test that alignment. For Sean Dyche, it is familiar territory, navigating uncertainty with blunt honesty and practical intent.