Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has dismissed speculation linking Emmanuel Dennis with a departure from Nottingham Forest this month.
The future of the 25-year-old striker has been thrown into question as the Reds look to do business during the transfer window. Forest are eager to make signings, but doing so will require players to find their way into accommodating newcomers to the Premier League’s 25-man squad.
Dennis has been largely restricted to a substitute role since moving to the City Ground from Watford in the summer. A few months after putting pen to paper, he is said to be facing the axe, with reports that Forest has received proposals from a club in the United States and a team in Saudi Arabia.
The situation is complicated by the fact that Dennis has already played for the Reds and Hornets this term. He would simply return to Watford or head to an overseas league where the season doesn’t run parallel to the Premier League.
“I’m aware of that, but I’m not aware of where he came from and why,” Cooper said of Dennis’ alleged departure from Nottingham Forest.
“We have attacking options, but not many numbers.
“What has been speculated is not true. If things change in the next few weeks with any of these guys, anything can happen. But at this point, I’m not sure why that was reported.”
Asked if Dennis still has a future at the club, Cooper said: “All the players do. We have an established group. We would like to improve and make changes, and if we do, great. If we don’t, we continue with our work.
“But that’s just normal transfer behavior and process. We’ll see where we are at the end of the window.”
Dennis was an unused substitute as the Reds clinched their first Premier League away win of the season on Wednesday night by beating Southampton 1-0. But the forward is hoping to feature in Saturday’s FA Cup tie in Blackpool.
“Maybe,” Cooper said, when asked if Dennis could get a few minutes at Bloomfield Road. “It is an opportunity for some players.
“If you look at the last cup game, against Spurs, we made a lot of changes and some players really took advantage of that opportunity. We carried that over to the Crystal Palace team selection, which was a bit of an impulsive decision, if you will, but what it shows, and what I will tell the players, is that every game is equally important in terms of performance. and evaluate individuals.
“When you play for this football club, every game is an opportunity and important to do well. Whoever we select, I expect 100 percent commitment and high levels of performance. We will not accept anything less than that. If Dennis is involved and plays, then like everyone else, we expect him to do well.”
