Nottingham Forest have the basis of a very good squad already in place as they look ahead to the end of the summer window.
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo admitted to being concerned about the depth of his squad before the new season kicked off. The Reds have overseen a flurry of new arrivals since, although they do still have a few gaps left to be filled before Monday's 7pm deadline.
Eight players have come through the City Ground doors so far. Nuno has made clear he wants to see a few more put pen to paper before the cut-off.
The aim for Forest is to ensure they finish the window with strength in depth across the pitch, to give themselves the chance to compete on both domestic and European fronts.
With the transfer clock ticking, Reds reporter Sarah Clapson assesses how Nuno's dressing room is shaping up...
Goalkeepers
Free agent Angus Gunn penned a one-year deal earlier this month to provide cover for No 1 Matz Sels. Brazilian Carlos Miguel had that job last season but has now returned to his homeland by signing for Palmeiras.
Miguel’s switch leaves Nuno with two senior keepers, and he has specified his wish to take that number up to three. Academy player Aaron Bott will no doubt hope to continue his development as part of the group but the Reds are targeting another shot-stopper before the window closes.
Full-backs
Recruitment to date has focused on other areas, leaving this as one department in need of attention before the window closes. The lack of natural full-backs on the bench in the Reds' first two Premier League games of the campaign highlighted as such.
Ola Aina and Neco Williams have made the right and left-back positions their own, but they need competition. Omar Richards and Eric da Silva Moreira are still on the books but Nuno has already namechecked the duo as two players who could move on in order to secure regular playing time.
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Centre-back
Summer signing Jair Cunha was an unused substitute for the 3-1 win over Brentford on the opening weekend, then wasn't even on the bench for last Sunday's 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace. With Morato, Willy Boly and youngster Zach Abbott also battling for minutes, the Reds have a solid centre-back list.
Jair will need time to find his feet in English football. But as with Boly, Morato and Abbott, he will have his work cut out to force his way past Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic in the pecking order.
Nuno’s first-choice defensive pairing proved a formidable barrier last term. The duo will be key to Forest’s aim to continue on an upward curve this time around.
Midfield
The Reds are keen to ensure Nuno’s options in the centre of the pitch are sufficiently strong this term. Ending the window with a balanced midfield department, featuring players who all have something different to offer, is the aim.
Douglas Luiz is yet to pull on the Garibaldi for the first time after becoming the club's most recent recruit when he put pen to paper on a loan switch from Juventus. It hasn’t quite worked out for the former Aston Villa man at the Serie A giants following his big-money switch last summer, but he has shown before what he can do in the Premier League.
Earning a place in Nuno’s team will be another matter, though. Ibrahim Sangare and Elliot Anderson started against Brentford and Palace, although the former has been linked with a move to West Ham United.
Ryan Yates will still have a part to play this term, despite the increased competition. Forest also have Nicolas Dominguez to come into the fold when he returns from injury.
James McAtee made his debut for the club from off the bench at Selhurst Park, but how Nuno fits him in is no easy task. Nevertheless, the attacking midfielder’s creativity makes him a valuable option to have.
Nuno likes players with versatility; McAtee has that in his locker, being capable of playing as a No 8 or a No 10. Morgan Gibbs-White has been the team’s talisman in the latter position but has also shone in a deeper role.
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Wingers
Having lost Anthony Elanga and Ramon Sosa, strengthening out wide was a must for the Reds. They have since brought in Dan Ndoye and Hutchinson.
The former marked his debut with a goal against Brentford, then chipped in with an assist against Palace. Hutchinson was handed his first minutes for the club last weekend.
Callum Hudson-Odoi will continue to have an important role to play in the Garibaldi over the coming months. However, Jota Silva’s stay on the banks of the Trent could be coming to an end as Sporting Lisbon are keen.
Strikers
Forest strengthened at the top end of the pitch early on in the window with the capture of Igor Jesus. The arrival of Arnaud Kalimuendo further strengthened their ranks, with the former Rennes man also able to operate out wide.
There is much excitement about what the newcomers can bring, but it was the familiar name of Chris Wood on the scoresheet on the opening weekend. The New Zealander showed he is determined to build on last term’s exploits by bagging a brace against the Bees.
Nuno now has the option of playing two up front, having paired Wood and Jesus together in pre-season. Taiwo Awoniyi can also bring something to the table, having recovered from the serious abdominal injury he sustained at the end of last term.
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