Nottingham Forest were eliminated from the FA Cup on Friday night after Wrexham edged them out on penalties following an entertaining 3–3 draw.
Forest showed real fight to claw their way back into the match, inspired by a standout display from Callum Hudson-Odoi, who netted twice. However, the coming weeks are shaping up to be crucial for the club, with Europa League ambitions still alive and their Premier League survival hanging in the balance.
Sean Dyche is expected to push for reinforcements that better suit his style, and that could result in several departures from the City Ground during the January window.
Douglas Luiz Facing Possible Forest Departure
According to Tuttosport, Juventus are considering recalling Douglas Luiz from his loan spell at Forest, with the Italian club reportedly sensing that the midfielder is not truly part of Dyche’s plans.
The Brazilian has endured an injury-hit spell since arriving and appears unlikely to reach the 20 Premier League appearances required to trigger a permanent transfer. Although Luiz played over an hour against Wrexham on Friday, his chances of becoming a regular starter in the league seem slim.
If Juventus do opt to bring him back this month, Forest may be forced into the market for another midfield option before the window closes.
Forest Must Decide on Luiz’s Future
From Luiz’s perspective, a return to Turin would be understandable. The former Aston Villa man, who made more than 200 appearances for the club, may be growing frustrated with Forest’s current approach under Dyche.
Midfielders can struggle to influence games in a system that often prioritises direct play, with defenders encouraged to launch long balls forward and attackers left to chase scraps. In that context, it’s difficult not to sympathise with Luiz.
While there is hope he can build on a decent showing against Wrexham, all signs suggest a final decision on his future will be made in the coming weeks.
