Steve Cooper is still loved and adored by Nottingham Forest supporters despite leaving almost two years ago.
Steve Cooper was the man who guided Nottingham Forest back to the Premier League after more than two decades out of the top flight.
The Welshman was given £142m to spend and brought in the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, Taiwo Awoniyi and Neco Williams, to name only a few.
However, they missed out on one player who is now ripping it up at Chelsea and is considered one of the best forwards in the Premier League.
Chelsea striker Joao Pedro.
Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Steve Cooper wanted Nottingham Forest to sign Joao Pedro in 2022
Forest signed a whopping 23 players in the 2022 summer transfer window, and to be fair, the squad did need a major overhaul.
Many of their star performers in the promotion-winning season were on loan, so Evangelos Marinakis and his chiefs were forced to make a number of signings.
One of their targets was actually then Watford forward Joao Pedro, according to 90min, as he had impressed in fairly limited game time the previous season.
Ultimately, Pedro stayed and had a fabulous year in the Championship before Brighton snapped him up for around £30m in 2023.
MORE FOREST STORIES
The Brazil international is now at Chelsea and has quickly become a talismanic figure, netting five goals whilst laying on three assists in just seven appearances.
Nottingham Forest have their very own Joao Pedro in Arnaud Kalimuendo
Whilst missing out on Pedro is clearly a what-could-have-been moment for Forest, they do have a number of talented players who could reach his level.
Arnaud Kalimuendo, who joined in a £26m transfer from Rennes in the summer, is highly thought of after netting 18 goals last term.
Kalimuendo is expected to start for Forest tomorrow as they take on Swansea City in the League Cup, so it will be the first chance to get a proper look at the young Frenchman.
Dilane Bakwa could also make his full debut after his deadline-day move from RC Strasbourg.