Three Nottingham Forest fans discuss which players could arrive at the City Ground in January

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Nottingham Forest have been busy in recent windows.

A total of 17 players have arrived at Nottingham Forest since the end of last season.

But despite having undoubtedly improved their fortunes, the Reds are still three points shy of a play-off place at the campaign’s halfway stage.

So could yet more bodies arrive at the City Ground in January?

We spoke to three Forest fans to see what might happen…

What do you think Nottingham Forest’s budget will be?

Christian Brown (Chris78901): I think between £5-8 million – the recent defeats to Preston North End and QPR would’ve been a wake up call for Aitor Karanka and we still have some money to play with after selling Ben Brereton to Blackburn Rovers for £7 million.

Lee Clarke (Clarkey_No1): It’ll probably be pretty decent once again, although we are stockpiling players a little bit so it seems likely that some will need to leave too.

Tom Waker (TomasWalker): I think it’s fair to expect us to have £5 million or so available. I think if the right player comes along funds will be available.

In which positions do they need to strengthen?

CB: I think we really need a central midfielder who can make things happen from deep. Adlene Guedioura, at present, isn’t quite performing as well as we know he can, so to have another option when we’re playing teams at home we should be beating on paper wouldn’t go amiss. Equally, another goalkeeper to give Costel Pantilimon some more competition and maybe a natural winger as well.

LC: A powerful winger capable of assisting Joe Lolley and Lewis Grabban with the burden of scoring goals would be nice. Potentially a central defender might be an option given injuries to (Michael) Dawson and (Danny) Fox, whilst a backup number 10 will surely be on Karanka’s radar.

TW: There is a little concern about Pantillimon in goal, although he has plenty of clean sheets to back himself up with. Question marks over the back up options for Grabban up top are there too, if he gets sidelined.

Who would be your dream January signing?

CB: Someone like Albert Adomah (the Aston Villa) on the flanks would be great – him and Joe Lolley would represent an incredible threat out wide and could supply Lewis Grabban superbly.

LC: (Jermain) Defoe would be nice but there is a lot of short-termism to such a deal. I would love to see Forest land Jarrod Bowen from Hull or Keiren Westwood from Sheffield Wednesday. Bowen in particular would be a tremendous signing.

TW: Defoe has been linked, but for me is not a dream signing. My dream signing, realistically, would be somebody like Pontus Jansson from Leeds.

Who do you suspect they will target?

CB: A winger and a goalkeeper definitely, not too sure on midfield.

LC: I think a defender, and a winger are definitely on Karanka’s shopping list, but we tend to keep our cards close to the chest when it comes to transfers, making it difficult to speculate.

TW: Karl Darlow has been mentioned as a potential signing as has Jermain Defoe. We’re unusually quiet when it comes to rumours right now.

Any loan players you would like to see back?

CB: Given our recent issues at centre back, I’d love to see Joe Worrall return. Personally, I think he offers a lot more than Michael Hefele does and would maybe learn more being tutored by Michael Dawson and Karanka in England than playing up in Scotland for Rangers. Otherwise, Tyler Walker has been banging them in for Mansfield Town, but as he’s performing so well it would be a shame to put a stop to that.

LC: No. Tyler Walker is flying at Mansfield but he needs to play.

TW: The one that sticks out is Joe Worrall at Rangers. We’ve been caught short at centre-half and he’s certainly somebody we could have done with recently.