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Explained: Four players could leave Nottingham Forest this summer, contracts expiring in June

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Nottingham Forest could lose four players on a free transfer at the end of the season, with Stephen Henderson, Juan Rafael Fuentes, Danny Fox and Jamie Ward out of contract this summer and unlikely to be handed renewals. New manager Martin O’Neill will be casting an eye on every player in the squad, but the quartet look set to depart the City Ground as things stand.

Henderson hasn’t made an appearance for Forest this season and finds himself behind Luke Steele and Costel Pantilimon in the goalkeeper pecking order. The 30-year-old embarked upon a loan move to Wycombe Wanderers in December as a result of his lack of playing time and is expected to be released in the coming months.

Fuentes joined Forest in February 2018 but made only one appearance for the Reds before suffering a long-term knee injury that he’s still recovering from. The Spanish left-back is running again and may be available to play soon if not for his lack of match fitness, but Fuentes could be released before fans see him makes another appearance for Forest.

Fox has been a good servant for Forest and was an important player at the start of the campaign, but the left-back’s future remains up in the air while his contract is allowed to run down. He’s still held in high regard, with Forest turning down a bid from Wigan, so there’s a chance Fox could remain at the City Ground past the summer.

He’s been in decent form this season, has captained the side on numerous occasions and would leave a void at left-back if he was allowed to leave – Forest would only have Jack Robinson to choose from.

It’s hard to see Ward being handed an extension, with the 32-year-old’s last appearance for Forest coming 12 months ago. He was handed only 117 minutes of football last season and has spent the last year on loan at two different clubs. It would be a shock to see Forest keep Ward for the 2019/20 campaign.

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Opinion: Nottingham Forest should sign 22-year-old in January to end goal drought

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Sports journalist who is an avid football fan, enjoys debunking transfer rumours, loves to write pieces about players out in the cold and takes a large amount of pride getting a predicted XI 100% correct.