An important summer window is beginning to loom large for Nottingham Forest as the countdown to the end of the season begins.
If all goes well between now and May, the Reds will find themselves planning for European football as securing a place in the Champions League is very much in their sights. But whatever happens, the club will have some big decisions to make over certain players.
It was a quiet winter window at the City Ground, but overseeing new contracts for two star men represented a key bit of business by the club. Agreeing fresh terms for striker Chris Wood and centre-back Murillo was a significant statement of intent.
Wood was due to become a free agent at the end of the campaign but is now set to stay Trentside until 2027. Murillo's original deal had longer to run (until 2028), but he is now tied down until 2029.
Come the summer, Forest will have a few more contract calls to make. NottinghamshireLive delivers verdicts on the players who have just a few months left to run on their current deals.
Wayne Hennessey
Aside from snapping up young defender Tyler Bindon and loaning him back to Reading, re-signing back-up goalkeeper Hennessey on a short-term deal was the only addition made to head coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad in the winter window.
The Welshman is a valued member of the keepers’ union Trentside and provides an experienced head in the dressing room. If he stays on at the club, though, it seems more likely it would be in some sort of coaching role.
Ola Aina
An automatic year’s extension is set to be triggered on the full-back’s contract, which is due to expire in the summer. However, talks have taken place regarding a further extension.
Nuno has said he is confident a positive conclusion will be reached and Aina has indicated he wants to stay. The whole thing has been dragging on a bit, though, so getting it wrapped up as soon as possible has to be the aim.
Harry Toffolo
The 29-year-old has been a popular figure, on and off the pitch, during his three years at the club. He has generally been a reliable performer when given a chance. He has also been the epitome of a model professional and a true team player.
He hasn’t seen much game time this season, however, and left-back will be one of the areas Forest assess in the summer. Moving on seems the most likely scenario for Toffolo, but it would be with plenty of good wishes.
Willy Boly
The Reds hold an option to extend the defender’s stay by a further 12 months come the end of the season. However, a move to Saudi Arabia has been mooted. Boly has been linked with Al Riyadh, who are managed by former Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi.
Boly will have a big influence on the dressing room in the remaining few months of the campaign as Nuno’s side aim to secure European football. It would come as no surprise if he heads elsewhere in the summer, though.
Alex Moreno
Early on in the season, turning the Aston Villa loanee’s temporary move into a permanent one seemed a no-brainer. He was a fixture in the starting XI and was putting in some decent performances.
Fast forward a few months and he finds himself down the pecking order, behind Neco Williams. The Reds hold an option to sign Moreno but there has to be a question mark over whether they will, especially as he has been linked with a return to former club Real Betis.
Jonathan Panzo
The centre-back hasn’t really had the opportunity to show what he is about since moving to the City Ground in January 2022. Amid a succession of loans, he has made just one first-team appearance in the Garibaldi.
Currently with fellow Evangelos Marinakis-owned side Rio Ave, he has been hampered by injury and hasn’t seen too much game time there. At 24, he is still young but needs to be playing regularly and that isn’t going to happen Trentside. Heading elsewhere in the summer would be best for both parties.
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