Bid to re-sign Nottingham Forest forward Zach Clough

The 22-year-old left Bolton for Forest in a £3million deal last January but has struggled for regular minutes at the City Ground.

He has made just four starts in all competitions this term and the Daily Mirror report that the Trotters are plotting a loan swoop.

Clough is annoyed by his lack of action and said: “I have not been on the pitch as much as I would have liked and it has been hard.”

Forest boss Mark Warburton has also admitted the Manchester-born starlet is “frustrated” by his limited appearances.

“I am never going to tell you the team, but Zach Clough is a very talented player who is suffering at the moment because of the form of Kieran Dowell,” he said. “That is me being brutally honest.

“Zach trains really well every single day and he is getting stronger and fitter. I am delighted with his quality. I have no hesitation about playing Zach Clough, at all.

“We have said to his face and we will say it again, when his opportunity comes along I have no doubt about his quality at all. But right now it is Kieran Dowell, who is playing way above the level – consistently – than anyone would have imagined.

“He has done really, really well, Kieran. But Zach trains well every single day.

“He is frustrated and disappointed, but his attitude is really first class.”

Bolton, plagued by cash problems, achieved promotion from League One last term, despite selling Clough to Forest midway through the campaign.

When asked if he felt Clough’s sale has worked out better for Bolton, boss Phil Parkinson said: “You’d have to ask Zach for his opinion on that.

“He’ll have got a terrific contract there first and foremost but it’s not all about money for Zach because he loves his football.

“Players want to play and he hasn’t played as much as he wanted so I don’t know his thoughts on it.

“Zach has gone to a club where they’ve got a lot of players who are similar to him, similar technical players so he’s struggled to break into the team, so he’ll probably be a bit frustrated by that but he’s a lad who’s come through the academy and I enjoyed working with him during his time here.

“As everyone knows we sold him because we needed the money at the time.

“We were pleased we were able to push on and we’ve always kept an eye on his progress.”

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Am I being thick, I can't find anywhere in the article that suggests we are bidding anything !!!

Think it more likely that someone (Clough's agent or maybe Forest themselves) are creating an interest him in him probably being available - just before the transfer window.

Assuming we won't have much cash to splash to buy/loan players, what would be our priority areas to fill?  Would Clough fit the bill for any of them?

Would we want him in say place of the Buckley/Armstrong/Alf, alongside Madine up front?

If so maybe there might be something in it?

I think Buckley and Armstrong are coming on well, but if we can get Clough for a knock-down price, then I see no harm in trying for him.

Id have zach back.  I always thought if he had one more season playing with us he would of done better than forest anyway.  And we would of got more money, but i think it will be tough for him to get back in the swing of things and fit in with the current set up.  Cant see it happening.

Marc Iles said it's rubbish. On another note, is it just me who thinks he comes across as a bit an arrogant prick?

It would be an excellent signing for us but i could only see it happening if either Vela or Amoebi is sold in which case it wouldn't strengthen us much if at all.
As a Ken critic, i would certainly praise him for having a go if he signed Clough on loan without selling anyone in the January window

Can't see it personally. There's little to no evidence that he will be a hit in this league and we're in no position to take any chances. No room for sentiment when you're fighting for your lives.

I think it's more likely that our Winter window will be spent looking for a Josh Vela replacement. I'd also have a serious eye out for a consistent centre back if I were in charge.