A DAY of drama looked likely to end in frustration for Nottingham Forest.
While Adlene Guedioura was on the verge of a move to Crystal Palace and the chance to play in the Premier League, the Reds were struggling to sign a replacement as the transfer window closed.
Forest made numerous bids for several players but, at the time of going to press, just after the 11pm transfer deadline had passed, they seemed set for disappointment.
But that was the mood on the final day of the window, that is not the way the summer should be viewed overall.
Forest fans may have seen one of their favourite players heading for a move away from the City Ground.
But the summer still saw them make nine new additions, with owner Fawaz Al Hasawi backing Billy Davies with around £5m of new additions.
The day had started positively for the Reds. At lunchtime the rumour mill churned out the first news of interest for Forest, even if they were not directly involved, as it emerged that Middlesbrough were keen to take Norwich midfielder Jacob Butterfield on loan.
It felt like Boro could already be attempting to arrange cover for Forest target Grant Leadbitter, who had been firmly on the club's radar for much of the summer.
The Reds themselves could be viewing Leadbitter as a replacement signing, in a sense, with Crystal Palace heavily linked with Guedioura around the same time.
Palace were said to be discussing a fee for the Algerian, who both Hull City and Fulham had been linked with following his impressive displays for the club last season.
But, while that situation developed, Forest were not just relying on Leadbitter as a potential addition – or replacement – with Brighton revealing they had rejected several bids for their highly-rated midfielder Liam Bridcutt.
A complex situation was developing, with Palace – seemingly chasing a dozen different players – also having a bid rejected for the Brighton man.
Forest had been keen on Bridcutt earlier in the summer, but seemed to have identified Leadbitter as their primary target – more of which was to come later.
As the fans of various football clubs around the country began the now annual deadline day tradition of gathering behind the hardy Sky Sports News reporters outside training grounds and stadiums, to gurn and ring their friends to tell them they were on television, things began to speed up a little.
Former Forest keeper Lee Camp appeared happy to continue his new career as a back-up, by joining West Brom on a rolling monthly contract until January.
Having been released by Norwich City following the end of his short-term deal at Carrow Road, the 29-year-old had been without a club all summer.
Things were quiet at Wolves, where the League One club had been bracing themselves for interest in French winger Bakary Sako.
Forest had bid for the 25-year-old last week. Although, as the day went on, sources in the West Midlands suggested the offer had been for £1.5m, rather than the £2.5m mooted previously.
With Wolves valuing the player at closer to £4m, that left a big gap to be closed in a matter of a few hours – particularly with no fresh bids appearing to have been made.
Talk of Forest making fresh contact with Hull City over a potential loan move for Matty Fryatt appeared to come to nothing.
Although, with the loan window set to open again within a few weeks, that would not have been a priority for the Reds, who would be able to revisit that situation in the future.
And it was instead Leadbitter who was clearly the Reds' primary target – and one they were ready to step up the chase for.
Forest had already made four or five offers for the 27-year-old former Sunderland and Ipswich player, who was, according to his representatives, sat with his car keys in his hand, ready to travel for a medical.
He might have been able to set off, if not for the fact that other clubs were also interested – including Premier League Hull – and no club had yet had a bid accepted, by 7pm.
In the meantime, Norwich's interest to land Ricardo Vaz Te – a player Forest had been linked with more than once over the past few weeks – on loan from West Ham was intensifying.
While Middlesbrough were keen to strengthen their own forward line with Luciano Becchio, the out of favour Norwich striker, who had also been on Forest's radar more than once in recent seasons.
Leicester, with 9pm having been and gone, felt confident they had fended off any interest in Wes Morgan and David Nugent – although the Morgan to Forest saga is probably only on pause until January.
But there was news of a player moving out of the City Ground, with Guedioura – who had reportedly handed in a transfer request – heading to Palace for talks, as 11pm approached.
At that stage, it seemed unlikely that Forest were set to land a replacement.
There was still time for one last twist in the tale. But, that seemed more likely to come when the loan window opens.
![How the deadline day drama unfolded for Nottingham Forest]( "How the deadline day drama unfolded for Nottingham Forest")
