The former Scunthorpe striker was reunited with former Iron boss Nigel Adkins at the saints in January 2011, after a frustrating three-and-a-half year spell at Glanford Park.
He made 128 appearances for the Iron, but 65 of those were off the bench.
He scored 10 goals in that time, but his strike partnership with Chris Dagnall early in the 2010/11 season ultimately did not click as the Iron spiralled towards relegation.
Forte left for the Saints at the end of that January transfer window. He hit four goals in 15 appearances, and was largely limited to a back-up role as the South Coast side stormed to two successive promotions.
Ultimately that rapid rise to the Premier League proved too much for Forte, who is now considered surplus to requirements.
He, along with Lee Barnard and Ryan Dickson, now finds himself looking for a permanent move away from St Mary's. A transfer fee is unlikely to be needed.
"It's fair to say that [they can leave]," Adkins told BBC Radio Solent.
"There has been interest in them because they are of good quality. They are fit but they need to play football as well so everyone is working very hard to create a win, win situation.
"I'd imagine as the month progresses something more concrete will materialise."
Notts County, with whom he has enjoyed three loan spells, would appear to be early favourites for his signature.