Nottingham Forest have had a rather mixed start to their Premier League campaign, with two defeats, one draw and one win from their first four games.
One early aspect of the season so far that Steve Cooper can take a positive from is that his side have only conceded five goals so far, leaving nine other clubs in the division having let more in.
One figure that has played a rather big role at the back for the promoted side so far in the campaign is Steve Cook.
In the three league games he’s appeared in, the centre-back has made 15 clearances in total, leaving only three other Forest players with more.
Having made a total of 171 Premier League appearances across his career, the 31-year-old certainly knows what it takes to play in the division.
While the Midlands club have already brought in a vast amount of new players throughout the summer transfer window, the remaining hours before deadline day could see them add some extra defensive reinforcement to the squad.
One player that has been mentioned with a move to the City Ground that would do that and give Cooper the chance to create a formidable defensive duo next to Cook is Michael Keane.
With 219 top-flight appearances under his belt, the Everton defender, just like Cook, has a lot of experience playing in the Premier League, which could be very valuable for Forest if they sign him.
Last season saw the 29-year-old end the campaign with more interceptions (62) and clearances (149) than any other Everton player, which highlights the defensive credentials he’d be able to offer Cooper’s side.
Praised for his “immense” performances in the past by Harry Redknapp, the £65k-per-week centre-half has only made one substitute appearance for the Toffees in the league this season, which suggests that he has fallen down the pecking order at the Merseyside club.
With that in mind, a move to Forest where he may have a better chance of playing regularly and being part of a strong defensive partnership with Cook could be a very tempting prospect for the player.
If the opportunity to strike a deal for Keane arises before deadline day, this is definitely something that the Midlands club should pounce on, as his defensive experience and talent could be the difference between Forest having a successful campaign or not.
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