Three lower league signings that would aid Nottingham Forest

Follow us on Google Discover

The Reds have already signed well from the lower leagues, from which there is a lot of talent available.

Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton applauds the fans

Despite Nottingham Forest’s Championship future looking highly uncertain, you sense that the lower league market could well be an option for them in the summer.

Be it for bolstering their squad with hungry players ready to step up, or players to help get them back up, the lower leagues have players that would be significantly cheaper than signing a journeyman Premier League player, while potentially offering more.

Forest have already looked to the lower leagues in the recent January transfer window with Zach Clough and Gboly Ariyibi, but here are three more lower leagues gems new boss Mark Warburton could pluck.

Conor McLaughlin – Fleetwood Town

As Forest currently have only one permanent right back on the books in Eric Lichaj, the right back position is something that needs to be looked at. The Reds could do a lot worse than moving for 25-year-old Northern Ireland international McLaughlin, who has been a mainstay in a Fleetwood side that have kept 17 League One clean sheets this campaign as they push for promotion to the Championship. McLaughlin has even found himself among the goals this year, with five league strikes this season.

Peterborough’s Marcus Maddison scores their second goal

Marcus Maddison – Peterborough United

While Forest signed winger Ariyibi from Chesterfield in January, Jamie Ward and Mustapha Carayol simply aren’t good enough for the club to move forward if new boss Mark Warburton plans on playing with wingers. As Peterborough have no chance of promotion to the Championship this season, a summer move for Maddison – a 23-year-old with seven goals and 13 assists from the right wing this campaign – would resemble great business for the Reds, even if it takes a sizeable transfer fee. Other clubs will almost certainly be keeping an eye on Maddison, so Forest would have to strike early.

Matt Godden – Stevenage

This move would resemble a risk, but with Ross McCormack going back to Aston Villa when his loan deal expires and a colossally high chance of Ben Brereton being sold, Forest will probably need another striker in the summer. 25-year-old Godden could be that man, with the striker – in his first season in the Football League after being plucked from non-league – scoring 21 goals so far this season, 20 of which have come in League Two. Seeing as free scoring striker Omar Bogle departed League Two Grimsby Town for Wigan Athletic in January for around £1m with add-ons, as reports Sky Sports, Godden’s fee would presumably be in the same ball park, meaning Forest could have a cheap yet excellent replacement for any outgoing striker.