The Champions League decider against Chelsea on Sunday will be a remarkable occasion, but for some, it may be their last appearance for Nottingham Forest.
Speculation has been rife ahead of the Chelsea clash with players linked with Forest, but more importantly, Nuno Espírito Santo laughed off links with Roma to solidify his position at the club.
Truthfully, little can be predicted about Forest’s summer activity with Champions League football up for grabs, as finishing in the top five would generate huge income for Forest, which could alter all plans.
Incomings aside, though, we are also at the end of the road for some of the Forest squad, as five members of Espírito Santo’s side could be about to walk out at the City Ground in Garibaldi Red for the final time.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Five players who could leave Nottingham Forest after the Chelsea clash
Willy Boly
With Murillo not training ahead of Chelsea, Espírito Santo could have a dilemma at centre back, which the experienced Willy Boly could help solve.
Boly was linked with a move away in January but eventually stayed at Forest, although his contract is due to expire at the end of the season.
Morato would be the most likely replacement for Murillo, but if 34-year-old Boly is required, the Chelsea match could end up being an incredible end to his time at the club.
Alex Moreno
Through no fault of his own, Alex Moreno has barely featured for Forest in the second half of the season due to the tremendous form of Neco Williams at left-back.
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On loan from Aston Villa, Moreno has been linked with a return to Real Betis rather than his move to Forest being made permanent, a deal which seems to suit all parties.
Moreno hasn’t actually made the squad since the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City, so Forest fans may have already seen the final appearance of the Spaniard at the City Ground.
Harry Toffolo
Harry Toffolo has ended up replacing Moreno on the bench in recent weeks, but like Boly, his contract is set to expire at the end of June.
Toffolo was excellent against Tottenham in April in what was his first start of the Premier League season. It’s hard to imagine that he’ll earn a second against Chelsea, but the Forest manager clearly values his presence in the squad and, if the moment is right, could give him a proper send-off on Sunday.
Ola Aina
Someone who definitely will start on Sunday is Ola Aina, but his expiring contract has been rather more complicated than that of Toffolo and Boly.
Having seemingly been in negotiations all season, Forest reportedly triggered an extension in Aina’s contract to keep him at the club for next season at least, but this has yet to be confirmed by the club.
This is particularly concerning as Besiktas are monitoring Aina’s situation and should nothing be definitively sorted with the right back’s contract, you’d expect others to join the Turkish giants.
Aina’s presence both on and off the pitch is so crucial to Forest that the club must be doing all they can to make sure Sunday isn’t his last appearance at the City Ground.
Morgan Gibbs-White
When Man City come calling, it’s hard to turn them down, and that is exactly what Morgan Gibbs-White looks set to be presented with this summer.
Forest expect to receive a £70m offer for Gibbs-White to even come to the table for negotiations, but with Kevin De Bruyne leaving the former champions, it feels inevitable that Pep Guardiola’s side will test the resolve of Marinakis.
It’s been said that the Forest squad expect Gibbs-White to leave this summer, so Sunday’s Champions League decider could well be the last time fans get to see their talisman for Forest. If that’s the case, you can be sure he’ll be giving everything to make it a goodbye to remember.