Nottingham Forest will be going in search of some new players during the summer months as the transfer window bursts into life.
Igor Jesus is joining Forest from Botafogo. He will be joined by his two buddies – Jair Cunha and Cuiabano – with the Reds set to complete a swoop for three Brazilian stars.
Strikers will be on the radar at the City Ground this summer, with more firepower required. Dominic Calvert-Lewin won’t be coming to Forest, however, with the free agent not among the club’s extensive list of targets.
In order for the Reds to truly reshuffle their squad this summer, outgoings will clearly be necessary too. Danilo is moving to Lyon once the Brazilian trio have signed on the dotted line, and others will be moving on during the window.
Photo by Pedro Loureiro/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Photo by Pedro Loureiro/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Decision made on the future of Nottingham Forest defender Jonathan Panzo
It’s been a strange time of things for Panzo at Forest, and he might be left wondering why he signed for the Reds in the first place.
Now, according to Record, Panzo will make his loan with Rio Ave permanent this summer after a successful season in Portugal, with the club owned by Evangelos Marinakis.
Panzo checked in for £1.5 million from Dijon during the January window of 2022. Steve Cooper was looking to strengthen his squad for a promotion push and took a chance on Panzo, who was part of his England under-17 World Cup-winning team in 2017.
However, his time at Forest hasn’t really gone according to plan. Panzo played just one game – a 1-1 draw with Hull on the final day of 2021/22 – and has been on a number of loan spells since the club returned to the Premier League.
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Panzo has spent time with Cardiff, Coventry and Standard Liege but will now pen a one-year contract with Rio Ave following the 2024/25 campaign, where he scored once in 26 appearances for the club.
What Steve Cooper said about Jonathan Panzo
Clearly, the former boss who brought him to the City Ground is a huge fan of the defender. He spent time managing him on the international stage, and had Forest not won promotion when they did, he might have got more minutes in the Championship.
Cooper was pleased with his performance during a 1-1 draw against Hull back in 2021/22. He said after his performance: “I thought he did well. It was good for him to get his first start. He showed some good bits in the game.”
Panzo was always unlikely to get a chance in the Premier League, with Forest largely showing faith in Joe Worrall, Scott McKenna and Steve Cook following their exploits in the promotion-winning team.
At 24, there is a lot of time for Panzo to enjoy a brilliant career in football. Marinakis clearly sees something in him, and he will no doubt be under the Forest owner’s watchful eye at Rio Ave