Preparing to compete on the European stage will add a whole different element to Nottingham Forest’s transfer planning as they look ahead to a big summer window.
The Reds secured the point they needed to guarantee a continental adventure when they drew 2-2 with Leicester City last weekend. It just remains to be determined which UEFA competition they will be battling it out in next season.
But whether it be the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League for Forest, head coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad will require some tweaking for the 2025/26 campaign.
Reds reporter Sarah Clapson looks at some key lessons from the past which can help the club this time around when it comes to overseeing their transfer business...
Perfect blueprint
The level of competition will go up a notch with the Reds competing in Europe, but there is no need to deviate from their transfer template.
Forest have done some excellent business in recent windows. Smart, sensible and considered signings have been the order of the day - and such an approach has very much paid off.
Snapping up the likes of Nikola Milenkovic (£12 million), Matz Sels (£5m) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (£3m) for bargain fees shows an eye for great deals at the City Ground. Likewise, bagging Ola Aina on a free two years ago.
Nuno places a huge emphasis on recruiting the right characters as much as players with quality. He wants players who can slot into a tight-knit dressing room and who are fully committed to the cause.
The Reds know what works when it comes to shopping in the market. Regardless of planning for Europe, they do not need to veer too much from the blueprint they already have in place for eyeing up new faces.
Strength in depth
Nuno prefers to work with a small group. He likes everyone to feel they are involved and have a chance of getting on the pitch.
However, perhaps Forest have suffered from not having the same strength in depth as some of their Premier League rivals in the battle for a top-five finish. Injuries to key men at a crucial stage of the campaign have not helped, while the bench can sometimes lack the kind of quality options other teams have at their disposal.
Out wide, for example, Nuno has turned to midfielder Nicolas Dominguez in the absence of Callum Hudson-Odoi in the last two games. With so much at stake, he opted to play someone out of position rather than utilise orthodox wingers Ramon Sosa and Jota Silva - and that felt telling.
The Reds are going to need more options next season with the extra games they will be playing. They need to have the strength in depth to hold their own on several fronts, something they will have picked up on amid their struggle for form in the closing weeks of this term.
Sign a striker
Adding a forward to the City Ground ranks has been on the agenda for the past two transfer windows but without success. Forest cannot afford to make it three windows in a row without strengthening in that department.
In January, there was a feeling that it was better to do no business rather than the wrong business. If the Reds were going to sign a striker, it had to be the right one - and for the right money.
Did not bringing someone (anyone) in hamper their Champions League bid? Would it have made a difference had they brought any old front man in simply to add another body?
It’s difficult to say. There was always the risk doing so would do more harm than good. Perhaps last summer was where Forest really missed out.
Fans will be left wondering what might have been. But the club will be well aware there is no wiggle room for a repeat scenario this time around; sourcing more firepower is a must.
What transfer business do Forest need to do this summer? Click HERE to have your say
Get breaking Forest news sent direct to your phone
Join our Nottingham Forest WhatsApp group and get the latest breaking news, interviews and opinion sent straight to your phone, plus matchday team news and live updates of all the action. Just click here and select ‘Join Community’ to get started. The only proviso is that you must have WhatsApp on your phone to participate. No one will be able to see your personal information and you will only receive messages from the NottinghamshireLive Reds writers.
We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest Reds stories. If you later decide to opt out, just go to the name at the top of your screen and click 'Exit Group'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you are curious, you can click here to read our Privacy Notice.