Now the dust has settled on the 2024/25 season, Nottingham Forest will turn their attention to an important summer transfer window.
Premier League clubs can start doing business tomorrow (Sunday) as they look to tweak their squads for next term. For the Reds, incomings and outgoings are on the cards.
Ensuring head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has the right resources to compete on multiple fronts is the aim for Forest, who are in Europe for the first time in 30 years after qualifying for the UEFA Conference League. Ahead of the summer window opening, NottinghamshireLive takes a look at the best and worst case transfer scenarios for the Reds.
Best case scenario
Twelve months ago, Nuno stressed the importance of retaining the “core” of his squad ahead. He wanted to hang on to the bulk of his dressing room - not just his key players - to build on the strong team spirit already in place.
There was no need for a mass overhaul anyway, and overseeing some sensible business bolstered the Reds’ resources. The benefits of that approach can be seen in the club’s seventh-placed finish in the Premier League table and their run to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Same again this time around would be ideal. It might prove to be easier said than done in some cases, however.
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There is uncertainty about the future of Morgan Gibbs-White, in particular, as the playmaker is wanted by Manchester City. Forest have no desire to let him go and are not under pressure to sell. Their resolve to hang on to him is expected to be tested, but if they do manage to see off any suitors it would be a massive boost.
Equally, if the Reds can end the summer having tied down some of their integral figures to new contracts it would represent excellent business. Sorting out the futures of Ola Aina, Neco Williams, Callum Hudson-Odoi is a must, and arranging a new deal for Nuno should also be on the to-do list.
Beyond that, the key point for Forest will be to ensure they have sufficient strength in depth for a European campaign.Injuries stretched Nuno’s options at times during the latter stages of the 2024/25 campaign, showing there is work to be done for next term.
Other areas of the pitch need bolstering but recruiting a striker is an absolute must. The Reds boss wants the right characters as well as players with quality, so any target needs to be able to fit in on and off the pitch.
Worst case scenario
Talking of forwards, if Forest were to go a third window without adding more firepower it would be far from ideal. In January, there was a sense that it was better to do no business rather than bad business in terms of sourcing a striker. The winter market is always difficult to operate in, though, and it should be a whole different kettle of fish at this time of the year.
Even so, there is no need for the Reds to rip up their general approach to transfers. They have an impressive recent record when it comes to doing deals, so could do without steering away from that.
One of Forest’s strengths amid a special season has been their unity. Anything that risks damaging that would be best avoided.
As referenced above, talk of Reds players catching the eye of other clubs is bound to set off a few nerves. Gibbs-White, for example, would be an incredibly tough man to replace should it transpire that City do come calling. But Forest are very much in the driving seat in that respect and they have shown they know what they are doing on the transfer front.
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