There are just 11 days remaining before Nottingham Forest kick off the new Championship campaign with an away trip to Coventry City.
And to say that Chris Hughton’s squad looks a little undercooked would be an understatement.
Forest still haven’t reinforced an attack which scored fewer goals (37) than any other side in the league last season, bar Birmingham City, while continuing to look worryingly short in both full-back positions.
Gaetan Bong and Carl Jenkinson have been frozen out and are free to leave before the end of August.
So you would have been forgiven for assuming that 22-year-old academy graduate Jordan Gabriel had a good chance of starting when Forest visit the Ricoh Arena on August 8, particularly on the back of an excellent loan spell at newly-promoted Blackpool last term.
Will Nottingham Forest sell Jordan Gabriel to Sunderland?
According to the Nottingham Post, Gabriel’s future is suddenly shrouded in doubt, with League One giants Sunderland looking to tie up a deal and solve their own right-back problems.
What’s more, it is understood that Forest would be willing to accept a fee as little of £600,000 for the one-time Arsenal prospect.
This would not be the first time Nottingham Forest have cashed in on an exciting, homegrown talent either.
Arvin Appiah, Karl Darlow, Jamaal Lascelles, Matty Cash and Oliver Burke have all been sold by the two-time European champions in recent seasons.
At least the departures of Cash (£15m), Appiah (£8m), Burke (£13m) and co strengthened the club’s coffers quite substantially.
Selling a rising star many view as a future first-team regular for just £600,000, however, risks further alienating an already disillusioned fanbase.
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