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The players Nottingham Forest could sign in the summer transfer window - if they avoid relegation
Nottingham Forest took another step towards Premier League survival on Friday evening, as they tore Sunderland apart at the Stadium of Light, romping to a 5-0 win on the road. While West Ham and Tottenham both won a day later, Forest at least maintained the five point buffer keeping them clear of the relegation zone, and gave their goal difference a timely boost.
With just four matches of the 2025/26 Premier League season left to play, Forest will still be hopeful of their chances of staying up. On top of that, they could even be playing in the Champions League next season - if they’re able to beat Aston Villa in their Europa League semi-final before winning the final in Istanbul next month.
In the meantime, our thoughts have been turning towards the summer transfer window, and the kind of business Forest could do if they do indeed maintain their Premier League status. We fired up the latest edition of Football Manager, and had the simulation predicted every player the Tricky Trees could sign and sell this summer - if they can stay up:
Nottingham Forest summer transfer window predicted - new players signed
David de Gea - £4.5m from Fiorentina: A truly lovely bit of business to get the ball rolling, it must be said. The ex-Manchester United goalkeeper, who has a hefty 45 Spain caps to his name, was snapped up for a bargain fee. At 35-years-old, he’s very much in the twilight of his career, but that Premier League experience is invaluable. He was likely brought in as Forest’s new number one, jostling past both Matz Sels and John Victor to don the gloves.
Vakhtang Salia - £8m from Newcastle United: “Who?!” you may be roaring incredulously at your screen, and we can’t blame you for doing so. The Magpies signed the 18-year-old Georgian striker from Dinamo Tbilisi last summer, but he’s yet to make a senior appearance for the North East side. Clearly the Forest scouting network were watching those Newcastle youth games avidly, and he did enough to convince the club to make the bold purchase.
Weverton - free transfer from Palmeiras: It’s... another goalkeeper? Yes, Forest went all-in on shot-stoppers, signing the 38-year-old former Brazil international who became available on the free agent market. He’d played his entire career to date in his home country, but clearly fancied a change of scene and, most likely, a season snoozing on the bench.
Samuel Chukwueze - loan from AC Milan: Despite a less than dazzling campaign on loan with Fulham, the Tricky Trees decided to take a gamble on the Nigerian winger, recruiting him on a season-long, temporary deal from Milan. He’s capable of playing on either flank or even centrally, and provided Forest with a versatile squad rotation option if nothing else.
Bart van Rooij - loan from FC Twente: Another loan deal to round off the incomings, with the Dutchman also arriving on a season-long deal. He’s a 24-year-old right-back, and one who might struggle for game time given that Forest already have Ola Aina and Nicolo Savona playing in his favoured position.
Nottingham Forest summer transfer window predicted - players sold
Ryan Yates - £10m to Fulham: Forest didn’t go crazy on the spending front, but they still needed to balance the books. They certainly ruffled some feathers with their decision to cash in on the club captain, who’s been at the club since he signed for the youth academy over twenty years ago. He was presumably persuaded to move to west London with the promise of more game time.
Taiwo Awoniyi - loan to Crystal Palace: The forward hasn’t been able to get much of a look-in this season, featuring in just 13 matches and scoring two goals in all competitions. Rather than exiting permanently, he was shipped out on loan to Palace, with their new manager Kieran McKenna making the deal happen.
Jota Silva - £30m to West Ham: Crikey, that’s some fee. The Hammers went all guns blazing in the transfer window, handing Forest a hefty profit on the £6m they paid to sign the winger back in 2024. He’s not exactly been tearing it up at Besiktas since joining on loan from Forest in January, either, which makes the move all the strange. Take the money and run.
Angus Gunn - £2m to Montpellier: Ah, perhaps this explains the double goalkeeper signing. Buoyed by a World Cup campaign with Scotland, the ex-Norwich City stopper became relatively hot property, and sealed an intriguing move to the second tier of French football. A few years playing football in sunny southern France sounds rather lovely, to be honest.
Matz Sels - £1.1m to Ipswich Town: Now those two goalkeeper signings really do make sense. We’re sorry we ever doubted you, grandly titled ‘Global Head of Football’ at Forest. Sels ended a three-season spell at the City Ground in which he made over 90 appearances, opting to join newly promoted Ipswich Town and becoming their new number one.
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