Latest Nottingham Forest news as Nuno Espirito Santo’s Reds look ahead to the summer transfer market.
Nottingham Forest’s trying season will conclude tomorrow, and attention will immediately shift to what promises to be a pivotal summer.
The Reds can look forward to a third consecutive Premier League season, but there is still a lot of work to be done if they want to progress next season. The main focus will be on transfers: who stays, who leaves, and who comes in.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that the summer window would be available from June 14 until 11 p.m. on August 30. With that in mind, we’ll take a look at the current transfer situation at the City Ground.
Who could be on their way out?
Nuno Espirito Santo, Forest’s head coach, stated in January that the team needs to be slimmed down. The Portuguese prefer to operate in close-knit groups.
During the winter window, the club made tremendous progress in terms of reducing its membership. The summer will witness another round of departures.
Many athletes are nearing the end of their contracts. Wayne Hennessey, Willy Boly, Felipe, Ola Aina, Cheikhou Kouyate, Loic Mbe Soh, Scott McKenna, and Harry Arter are scheduled to become free agents. Of those eight, Boly and Aina are likely to be the only ones the Reds want to keep.
Loanees Gonzalo Montiel, Nuno Tavares, Gio Reyna, Divock Origi, and Rodrigo Ribeiro will also see their contracts end. With the exception of Reyna, Forest has the ability to make the movements permanent, although it remains to be seen whether they do so. Teenager Ribeiro is regarded as a bright prospect, but the loans have not been very successful.
Financial constraints will be a factor in any other prospective exits. The Reds were punished points for violating the Profitability and Sustainability Rules this season and will not want to be in the same situation again. “You learn from your own mistakes,” Nuno stated.
The independent commission’s written report justifying Forest’s four-point penalty included projected losses of £12-17 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The situation points to player sales this summer, though not necessarily a fire sale.
Nonetheless, it would not be surprising if rival clubs pursue important assets Murillo and Morgan Gibbs-White. Both have admirers and have been strong performers at the Garibaldi. The Reds place considerable value on both players.
The fact that the relevant PSR assessment period extends until the end of June effectively adds another deadline date. Clubs that want to stay within the limits may have to contemplate some early sales. It could indicate a busier start to the summer window than is typical.
The current situation with returning loanees
When it comes to those players who have been out on loan and are about to return to the City Ground, important decisions will need to be made. Nuno will not have had the opportunity to work with many of them yet.
The Reds’ manager may consequently want the opportunity to run the rule over some in pre-season. But, in the end, Forest must decide whether the players in question can play a role next season or if another loan or parting ways is better.
Joe Worrall is among those individuals. Even if Besiktas choose not to exercise their option to purchase the defender, he has other suitors, and it may be the end of an era for the Nigel Doughty Academy graduate.
It will be intriguing to see what happens to left-back Omar Richards. When he moved to Olympiacos on loan last August, it was hoped that a change of scenery would be beneficial after a string of injury difficulties – and it appears to have been a wise decision. The former Bayern Munich player has now made 12 appearances for the Greek club and will undoubtedly want to make his debut for Forest next season.
Jonathan Panzo, Alex Mighten, Brandon Aguilera, Lewis O’Brien, Orel Mangala, Josh Bowler, Emmanuel Dennis, and Hwang Ui-jo have all been out on loan. Mangala’s move to Lyon is certain to be permanent, but Middlesbrough has ruled out doing the same with O’Brien, albeit Sheffield United and Preston North End have been connected with the former Huddersfield Town midfielder.
What positions will Forest be pursuing?
“It’s been different than usual because this time of the season is usually when you start planning for the future, and we didn’t have this opportunity to do so,” Nuno said when questioned about transfer plans last week. “We had too much work and duties on our hands to be distracted by anything, yet there were plenty of distractions.
“(Not knowing the division) is the primary factor. Everything will change as the season progresses, but now is not the time to consider or discuss this. That’s something for us to deal with later.”
This summer, no major overhauls should be required. The Reds already have the foundation of a strong group; all they need are a few important additions while keeping PSR in mind.
In an interview with the Daily Mail this week, owner Evangelos Marinakis described the structure that the team will most likely follow. He emphasized how, with certain exceptions, Forest has sought to bring in young players with the potential to raise their worth.
“The vast majority of the players we’ve signed in the previous two or three years are young and incredibly good. They will ensure that the club’s assets continue to increase. “The reality is that this was a wise and clever decision, and we are seeing the results,” he remarked.
Nuno’s attacking resources will undoubtedly be bolstered, while central defence may also be considered, and midfield reinforcements would be beneficial. Who leaves will have an impact on how the summer unfolds.
Are any names linked?
So far, the transfer rumour mill has remained rather quiet. Expect things to alter in the next days and weeks.
