Ending the transfer window with sufficient strength in depth across the pitch was the aim for Nottingham Forest.
The Reds will compete on four fronts this season, having qualified for Europe for the first time in three decades. They will be keen to give a good account of themselves in all competitions.
With that in mind, it has been a busy summer at the City Ground. Owner Evangelos Marinakis has splashed the cash and brought in a mixture of quality, potential and experience.
The end result is Forest have a very strong squad in place. They have cover and competition for places across the pitch.
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s frustration before his team’s first game of the season was over the slow pace of the club’s business. He would have preferred signings in earlier, to give them time to gel.
Nuno’s concern perhaps still stands, but there can be little doubt about the calibre of the resources he has at his disposal. Now the Portuguese has to get a tune out of them.
The Reds brought in two goalkeepers to keep Matz Sels on his toes. Sels will remain first-choice between the posts but has solid back-up in John Victor and Angus Gunn, with Nuno keen to have three senior stoppers on the books.
Full-back was an area Nuno identified as being a priority for strengthening going into the final days of the window. Nicolo Savona, Cuiabano and Oleksandr Zinchenko duly arrived, to provide cover and competition for Ola Aina and Neco Williams.
At centre-back, Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic will be tasked with building on the formidable partnership they established last term. Morato, Willy Boly, Jair Cunha and Zach Abbott offer reinforcement in that department.
In midfield, it remains to be seen when Douglas Luiz will finally get his chance in the Garibaldi. The former Aston Villa man has remained rooted to the bench for the past two games, leading to Nuno’s use of substitutions during Sunday’s 3-0 thumping by West Ham United coming in for some criticism.
Luiz has shown before what he can do in the Premier League. His time will surely come.
With Ibrahim Sangare, Elliot Anderson and Ryan Yates in the ranks, Nuno has a mix of midfielders with different qualities to offer. He will be able to rotate, depending on the competition - and he still has Nicolas Dominguez to add to the mix when he returns from injury.
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Similarly, Forest have versatility at the top end of the pitch. They have players capable of operating in different positions.
It is an aspect of the make-up of his group Nuno particularly values. He recently said: "More than numbers, it is the versatility side of the squad. You can shorten the numbers as long as you have versatile players.”
James McAtee is a creative midfielder able to slot in as a No.8 or a No.10. Morgan Gibbs-White can sit deeper when required.
Omari Hutchinson can play on either wing or centrally. Arnaud Kalimuendo can play out wide or up front. Add in Callum Hudson-Odoi, Dan Ndoye and Dilane Bakwa and Forest have impressive resources for the flanks. It remains to be seen what the future holds for Jota Silva, given he was wanted by Sporting Lisbon before the deadline.
The Reds should have goals in the squad, too. Last season’s top scorer Chris Wood will no doubt continue to chip in, but he has more help shouldering that particular burden this time around. Kalimuendo, Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi offer alternative options up front.
Goalkeepers: Matz Sels, Angus Gunn, John Victor.
Full-backs: Neco Williams, Ola Aina, Nicolo Savona, Cuiabano, Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Centre-backs: Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic, Morato, Willy Boly, Jair Cunha, Zach Abbott.
Midfielders: Ryan Yates, Nicolas Dominguez, Ibrahim Sangare, Elliot Anderson, Douglas Luiz.
Attackers/wingers: Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Jota Silva, Dan Ndoye, Omari Hutchinson, James McAtee, Dilane Bakwa.
Strikers: Chris Wood, Igor Jesus, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Taiwo Awoniyi.
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