Alex McLeish has moved quickly to do a deal with Norwich City for the central defender after his earlier loan spell at the City Ground.
Ward's move comes amid a whole host of transfer rumours that are linking the Reds with, among others, Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Robert Green, West Brom's Gonzalo Jara Reyes,Chris Burke of Birmingham City and Manchester City's Dedyreck Boyata.
***Update*** Chilean international defender Jara Reyes has completed a loan move and says he is keen to make an immediate debut against Peterborough on Saturday.
"I was very keen to talk to Forest," he told the Nottingham Evening Post.
"They are a big club and everyone in my country knows about their history."