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Nottingham Forest’s priority is to sign a right-back and a defensive midfielder, not another goalkeeper or striker, says Aitor Karanka.

The Reds boss confirmed that as well as wanting to add another defensive midfielder – with Jack Colback still their primary target – the club are keen to add competition and back-up for Tendayi Darikwa, who is currently their only experienced option at right-back.

Forest have consistently been linked with a move for Benfica stopper Bruno Varela in the Portuguese media, while Jose Sa, of Porto, has been another source of speculation.

The Reds have been monitoring two of their former players, in Nelson Oliveira and Patrick Bamford this summer, but they were regarded as back-up options, were they unable to land primary targets Lewis Grabban and Hillal Soudani.

(Image: Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images)

With several weeks to go until the end of the transfer window, Forest would not rule out doing further business, if the right deals become available closer to deadline day.

But, for now, Karanka says that neither a keeper nor a striker are currently on their radar, as Forest look to make the final two additions the club believe would make their squad competitive for the coming campaign.

Karanka, who has previously confirmed Forest’s desire to bring Colback back to the City Ground, said: “The other position we want to add in, is at full-back.

“We have Ben Osborn and Jack Robinson who can play on the left side now but we have only Tendayi on the right side.

“We are hoping to bring in another right-back, as soon as possible.”

Karanka confirmed West Ham’s Sam Bryam is a player Forest are monitoring, with the Hammers having bolstered their options in that position with the capture of Ryan Fredericks from Fulham – but he hinted the former Leeds defender is not their only potential target.

And he said the club are willing to be patient, to ensure the pattern of good transfer business they have conducted this summer is maintained.

“Everyone can know some (of our targets)… he is at West Ham, he is a Premier League player, we have our targets and we know that sometimes the market can give you something,” said Karanka.

(Image: JMS Photography/Mark Fear)

“The main thing is that the club has been doing the business really well.

“We are not in a hurry, because we have most of the squad we want training together already, every single day. That is the main thing.

“We have not made any mistakes with the players we have brought in already and we are not going to make any mistakes now.”

And, with the club having worked hard to sign Costel Pantilimon permanently from Watford this summer and with Stefanos Kapino and Jordan Smith available as competition and back-up, Karanka confirmed Forest currently have no plans to sign another keeper.

“It is not a position we want to add another player in, at the moment. We have three very good goalkeepers,” said Karanka. “In the next four (friendly) games we will see what is happening.

“If one of them who is not playing wants to leave, that may change, in a few weeks.

“But everyone is together, we are working together and working hard in training.”

Forest also have Stephen Henderson and Dimi Evtimov on their books, but both keepers are understood to be among the group of players regarded as being surplus to requirements by Karanka.