With the transfer market open, we look back at the most recent Nottingham Forest news and rumours as Nuno Espirito Santo seeks to bolster his squad for the 2024/2025 season.
The Reds’ board is keen to improve the club’s Premier League status and grow on the club’s previous two seasons as relegation contenders; to accomplish so, they will need to start investing and stay on the right side of PSR.
Striker leaves.
Swedish forward Julian Larsson has left Forest.
The 23-year-old has left the City Ground to join Burton Albion after failing to make an impact with the Reds, whom he joined in 2020 from Allsvenskan side AIK.
He scored 16 goals in 43 Premier League 2 games for Forest, but did not play in the Premier League.
Joe Worrall is going toward the exit.
Forest are thought to have started talks about signing Joe Worrall.
Worrall’s future at the City Ground is uncertain after being loaned to Besiktas in February. The agreement includes an option for the Turkish club to make the move permanent in the summer.
Lowdown on Carlos Miguel
Forest are set to complete the acquisition of towering goalkeeper Carlos Miguel soon as they address their goalkeeping department and look to add depth following Wayne Hennessey’s exit, but Matt Turner’s future is uncertain.
Miguel, of Corinthians in his home Brazil, had a release provision placed into his contract, which Forest are said to have activated. The goalie will cost the Reds less than £4 million once the deal is finalized, and he will kick off another exciting summer of recruitment at the City Ground.
The 25-year-old was born in Rio de Janeiro and began his football career as a youth with Flamengo before joining Internacional. Miguel went on loan to clubs in the lower tiers of the Brazilian football pyramid, including Santa Cruz and Boa Esporte, where he made his senior debut.
McKenna bargains.
Scottish champions Celtic have been advised to look into signing defender Scott McKenna on a free transfer after he left Nottingham Forest at the conclusion of his contract. The Reds released McKenna this summer, along with Cheikhou Kouyate, Felipe, and Wayne Hennessey, all of whose contracts had expired.
McKenna, who spent the second half of last season with FC Copenhagen in Denmark, spent four years at the City Ground after moving from Aberdeen in 2021, and during that time he played an important role in the club’s long-awaited return to the Premier League – he then featured prominently in 2022-23, but McKenna fell down the pecking order last year.
As a result, Forest opted to let him find a new club, and McKenna is expected to be in high demand when he returns from Germany, where he is presently representing Scotland in Euro 2024. McKenna is reported to be a Celtic fan, and a return north of the border could be in the works.
Marko Stamenic’s recent transaction
Forest are ‘working on’ signing Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Stamenic for £4.6 million, seemingly beating Coventry City to the deal.
The Athletic reports that the 22-year-old might be Forest’s first summer acquisition. However, this one will not instantly reinforce Nuno Espirito Santo’s ranks; instead, he will take a loan path to Evangelos Marinakis’ other owned club Olympiacos in the hopes of a promising future.
Stamenic has been connected with a move to England in the last two weeks, but those in sky blue will be surprised to learn that it will be to the City Ground rather than the Coventry Building Society Arena. Our sister site, Coventry Live, explains how over two weeks of interest led to an agreement, but the player’s unwillingness to play in the second tier has resulted in the current situation.
In-demand defender linked
Tottenham is’showing interest’ in Monaco defender Vanderson, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
The 22-year-old has been the subject of heavy speculation about his future in recent weeks, with Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte reporting that Forest are also interested in a player with two international caps.
The link initially surfaced last week, when the press in his home country reported that his club was bracing for an enquiry from Napoli, with the Serie A outfit offering €9 million but Monaco demanding €15 million.
That article reportedly stated that Forest and Sevilla are interested, and that his representative, Giuliano Bertolucci, ‘would listen’ to bids from both teams.
Madrid wants Murillo.
Atletico Madrid are allegedly interested in signing Forest defender Murillo to strengthen their defence.
The 21-year-old Brazilian has become as an important player for the Premier League team, and if he were to depart City Ground, he would undoubtedly demand a high amount for his services.
His outstanding exploits helped Forest avoid relegation last season, and they have piqued the interest of the La Liga squad, according to Fichajes.
Murillo is a young prospect with a contract at the City Ground until 2028, thus Forest do not need to sell him. If the pricing is right, they may be encouraged to do business, alleviating any further financial concerns with PSR.
Forest are apparently vying with Aston Villa for right-back Saud Abdulhamid.
Right-back Abdulhamid, 24, has emerged as a vital player for Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal, who have 31 victories and three draws in 34 games this season. He also represented Saudi Arabia at the 2022 World Cup and helped his club reach the Asian Champions League semi-finals.
However, he has 12 months left on his contract and is said to be eager to pursue his career ambitions and relocate to Europe. Toulouse has supposedly made an approach, while TeamTalk reports that Forest and Villa are among the clubs attempting to secure a trade this summer.
Al-Hilal are “open to letting” the defender leave because negotiations to prolong his contract are “not yet in the hot stage.”
They are one of the Saudi Pro League clubs that are 75 percent owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which also owns 80 percent of Newcastle United.
His teammates include former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves and ex-Newcastle and Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who will compete against England at the Euros against Serbia.
In the recently concluded season, Nuno Espirito Santo employed Neco Williams, Serge Aurier, Gonzalo Montiel, and Ola Aina at right back for Forest.
Williams missed the run-in due to injury, but, like Aina, he can play on either side and is seen as a key player at the City Ground.
