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The next TWO transfer windows are vital for Nottingham Forest, according to boss Mark Warburton – who hints the club are close to having deals in place and ready to go on the first day of January.

Warburton hopes the Reds will be closer to having a squad that can achieve their Premier League ambitions if they can add their three primary targets in the new year.

But he believes it is important for Forest to have “another fruitful window” beyond that in the summer, to add to the good work they did back in July and August, when they made seven new additions – eight if you include Adam Federici’s ill-fated loan move.

Forest are targeting a goalkeeper, a left-sided central defender and a midfielder, with another forward also on their list of targets.

Warburton does believe the hard work already done by director of football Frank McParland will pay off when the window opens – but is wary about making promises, when it comes to all their business being done on January 1.

“There is a lot of work being done. Too many times in football you see people say ‘yeah, we’ve got this deal all lined up’ then, at the last minute, when the window opens, it falls down and you look like a fool. You can so easily end up with egg on your face,” said Warburton, who saw his side suffer a frustrating 2-1 defeat at high-flying Bristol City on Saturday.

(Image: Dan Westwell)

“Work is being done, we know what we would like to do; we know who we will like to move for. Whether we can get those deals done, I don’t know.

“We want to move in certain areas, obviously. I would like to think that we can have another fruitful window, because summer was a good window for us.

“We could do with another fruitful window in January – and again next summer. The next two windows for this club are very, very important. It is important that we are able to do that.”

Warburton believes it could provide a timely lift for Forest if they can add quality in January – but says character is just as important.

(Image: Joseph Raynor)

“Everyone talks about it ‘giving you a lift’ if you can make new signings. But there are so many aspects to it. What he can do out there, on the pitch, is one half of it,” said Warburton. “The other half is his character, how he fits in, in the dressing room and how he adapts to a new club.

“If he is from overseas, how he will deal with all the other aspects that will bring about? Language and things like that can be a factor. Whenever you recruit a player, people make it sound easy. They ask ‘why don’t you just go and sign him?’.

(Image: Getty)

“If it was that easy, everyone would do it. A lot of work is being done and, in Frank, we have one of the very best. I am not just saying that because he is a friend of mine.

“I know how good he is. I hope very much we can get deals done. But I am not going to say to you ‘we have this and that lined up’ only for things then to fall down on January 1 and have you look at me and ask ‘where are they then?’.”

(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

Forest are expected to renew their interest in Brondby goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow and Hibs midfielder John McGinn – but may now be facing a battle to get either deal over the line, with the stock of both men having risen since the summer.

When asked if Forest would resume their efforts to sign their summer targets now, Warburton said: “That is a very direct question, but I might give you an indirect answer.

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“We will do what we think is right for Forest. We have to try to get the balance right in the squad. I hope you saw the changes we made to the make-up of the squad in the summer, in terms of the young players coming in.

“We brought in young players like (Barrie) McKay, (Jason) Cummings… and (Tendayi) Darikwa is a relatively young player as well.

“I think the balance is getting there, but the next two windows are really important for the squad, because this is a tough, tough division and you need to make sure you have the quality in the areas you need, to sustain you through a long season.”