It is all set up to be a big summer at the City Ground as Nottingham Forest aim to push on again in 2025/26.
The Reds are guaranteed European football of some kind next season, although it is yet to be determined in which competition. Whether it be Champions League, Europa League or Conference League, Nuno Espirito Santo's squad will require some tweaking in order to cope with the additional workload.
However, outgoings as well as incomings are on the cards when the transfer window opens next month. Below, NottinghamshireLive looks at some players who could already have played their last game for the club.
Wayne Hennessey: The goalkeeper made something of a surprise return to the City Ground when he penned a short-term contract in January, having been released last summer. It seems unlikely there will be a repeat scenario of the Welshman putting pen to paper.
Wales have already offered the 38-year-old a coaching opportunity with their Under-21s. If he is to stay on at Forest, it would likely be in a similar capacity. He has not featured this season and actually hasn’t played competitively for the club since May 2023.
Lewis O’Brien: Having thrived on loan at Swansea City, the midfielder has said he would be open to returning to the Championship side. However, it has been suggested finances could prove to be a stumbling block for the Swans and they could face competition from Valencia.
“It’s never in my hands to just say yes or no, it’s always a lot more complex than what people see outside,” O’Brien recently said when asked about a potential return to the Welsh outfit. “But I have enjoyed my time here. I think the lads are great, the staff are great. I don’t see why not.”
The former Huddersfield Town man has had a succession of loans since signing for the Reds. The last time he donned the Garibaldi was in January 2023.
Emmanuel Dennis: Left out of Forest’s 25-man squad for the first half of the season, the attacker then joined Blackburn Rovers on loan before the winter window closed. However, he didn't see too much game time with the Championship side and was hindered by a hamstring injury.
Dennis is believed to have another year left to run on his contract at the City Ground. The Reds will try to oversee a move elsewhere in the summer, though, as it seems unlikely he can force his way back into Nuno’s thinking.
Andrew Omobamidele: Down the pecking order, the centre-back headed on loan to Strasbourg in January in search of regular game time. The French club have an option to make his move permanent in the summer while Leeds United have been linked with the 22-year-old.
“I haven’t looked beyond this summer, even though it’s getting close,” Omobamidele, whose only run-out for Forest this term came in August’s Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United, recently said in regards to his future. “My main goal now is to do the best I can here, and we’ll see what happens in the summer when we have to face the situation.”
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Jonathan Panzo: Out of contract in June, it seems inevitable the defender will move on as a free agent. It hasn’t really happened for him on the banks of the Trent and a parting of ways would be best all round.
The 24-year-old has been on loan with fellow Evangelos Marinakis-owned side Rio Ave this season. He has made just a single appearance for his parent club - that came when he started in the 1-1 draw away to Hull City in the final game of the regular season in 2021/22. Panzo had signed in the January of that term but didn’t really get a look-in as Forest went on to win promotion via the play-offs.
Josh Bowler: The winger might well end up departing before he has made even a single appearance for the Reds. Part of the recruitment drive following promotion in 2022, he has had five loans since then.
A move to Preston North End last summer didn’t work out and Bowler switched to Luton Town midway through the campaign, although he didn't fare too much better when it came to racking up minutes after the change. The 26-year-old needs to be playing regularly, so if a permanent deal can be found this summer it would surely suit all parties.
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