Hull City could look to Nottingham Forest alternative amid ongoing delays | OneFootball

Hull City could turn to Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Ethan Horvath this January if there are issues with Ivor Pandur's work permit.

According to journalist Mike White, the delays concerning Pandur's potential arrival are due to the club awaiting a decision over the Croatian's work permit. The Championship club will want to have alternatives in mind in case it does not get approved and Horvath ticks plenty of boxes.

With recent events unfolding at the City Ground, it is reported by The Telegraph that the Reds are adopting a “cautious” approach to their January transfer window after the Premier League charged Nuno Espirito Santo's side for breaching financial rules.

After 43 players were signed following the club’s promotion in 2022, Forest are targeting a “net zero” window with the focus on moving fringe players out to lower their wage bill.

The Forest manager is set to stick with goalkeepers Matt Turner and Odysseas Vlachodimos despite some patchy performances from the pair this season, meaning American, Horvath, is free to leave during the January window.

Championship experience could bolster Hull City's promotion hopes

Having spent two seasons in the Championship, the Tigers have started this campaign well, sitting one point outside the play-offs.

Their next league fixture will see them travel to Sunderland on Friday night, knowing a victory would put them into the top six ahead of the weekend's games.

Rosenior's side have already bolstered their squad in the early parts of the January window, adding Billy Sharp, Fabio Carvalho, and Ryan Woods (recalled from Bristol Rovers loan) to their ranks.

But improving their defence is an issue that needs to be addressed, having conceded more goals than all eight of the sides above them in the table.

Goalkeepers Matt Ingram and Ryan Allsop have split their time between the sticks, with neither looking particularly convincing and the Forest keeper would certainly be an upgrade.

Winning promotion with Luton Town to the Premier League last season, Horvath kept 19 clean sheets in the league and was one of the main reasons the Hatters beat Coventry City in the play-off final penalty shootout.

Hull are closing in on their third signing of the January transfer window with Ivor Pandur expected to sign a contract with the Championship club in the coming days, reports Hull Live.

Pandur reportedly jetted in from the Netherlands for his medical last Wednesday ahead of his move from Fortuna Sittard, after both clubs agreed a fee in the region of £1.5m for the 23-year-old, but has yet to be announced by the club.

Rosenior says Pandur is a goalkeeper City have followed for a period of time and have done extensive research work ahead of making their move for the Eredivisie stopper.

The Tigers chief says the Croatian Under-21 international will need time to settle into English football, but believes he has the capability of challenging both Allsop and Ingram for the number one jersey at the MKM Stadium.

He told Hull Live: "He's an outstanding young goalkeeper, and I think he's got a lot of potential. We've watched him for a long time, obviously coming from another country he's going to need an acclimatisation period for the Championship.

"But we feel that he can adapt. You know, he's got so many good attributes in terms of his game. He's an outstanding athlete. He's brave, he plays with a huge amount of personality which I like in my goalkeepers. And yes, he's going to add to what is already a really, really strong department."

Pandur could well be the solution, both short-term and long-term, but the Tigers are reportedly still waiting on the approval of his work permit and will want to have alternatives in mind.

Horvath - a proven Championship goalkeeper that Forest are willing to let leave this month - is someone that should be on the club's radar in case their number one target's work permit is not approved.

The American would still be an upgrade at the position, even as just a stopgap option.