Report: Arsenal and Forest Eye Premier League Forward | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest and Arsenal Eye Yoane Wissa Amid Transfer Buzz

Yoane Wissa: A Hot Commodity in the Transfer Market

With the January transfer window looming, Nottingham Forest and Arsenal are both setting their sights on Brentford’s Yoane Wissa. John Percy of The Telegraph reports, “Nottingham Forest will explore a move for Yoane Wissa, the Brentford forward, if Taiwo Awoniyi leaves the City Ground during the January transfer window.” This move hinges on the potential departure of Taiwo Awoniyi, whose future at Forest remains uncertain amid interest from West Ham United.

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Arsenal Joins the Chase

Arsenal, grappling with injuries to key players, has also shown significant interest in Wissa. Mikel Arteta’s squad has felt the impact of absences and sees Wissa as a versatile forward capable of bolstering their attacking options. Percy notes, “Wissa has emerged as a leading target for Forest, with Arsenal also understood to have added the DR Congo international to their list of striker targets.”

Wissa’s Impressive Season

Yoane Wissa has been in fine form this season, notching 12 goals across all competitions. His performance, especially a crucial goal against Manchester City, has not gone unnoticed. This scoring prowess makes him an attractive target for clubs looking to strengthen their front line during the mid-season window.

Nuno’s Strategy and Forest’s Ambition

Nuno Espirito Santo, steering Nottingham Forest to a commendable third place in the league, recognizes the challenges and opportunities of the January window. He asserts, “The transfer window in January is very difficult to operate in, and one of the things we are sure on is that we have a good squad.” Forest’s strategy seems to focus on judicious enhancements to a squad that has already demonstrated substantial competence and cohesion this season.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

The potential acquisition of Yoane Wissa for Forest could be seen as a proactive move to solidify the team’s attacking options, especially if Awoniyi departs. Wissa’s ability to play across the front three offers tactical flexibility for Nuno Espirito Santo, which could be crucial in the latter half of the season as Forest aims to maintain or improve their league standing.

Moreover, Wissa’s proven goal-scoring ability in the Premier League adds a layer of reliability and threat upfront, potentially easing the burden on Forest’s other attackers and diversifying their approach in attacking plays. However, competing with Arsenal for his signature will be no easy task, and Forest may need to act swiftly and decisively if they are to secure his services amidst strong competition.

In essence, Forest’s interest in Wissa highlights their ambitions to not only secure a top-four finish but to build a squad capable of sustaining success. The January window offers a critical opportunity to address squad needs, and Wissa represents a potential key piece in Forest’s puzzle as they navigate the second half of the season.