After another disappointing pre-season display, Nottingham Forest will once again turn to the transfer market to fill the gaps in Nuno Espírito Santo’s squad.
Throughout the summer, full-backs have been an area that Forest desperately need to bolster, as shown especially in the Birmingham City defeat with Ola Aina missing through injury.
New Forest signing Dan Ndoye made his debut in an attack that didn’t quite click against the Championship side, with fellow summer addition Igor Jesus the brightest spark in the front line.
Back into midfield, Forest are progressing with a deal to sign Douglas Luiz, but another addition to the midfield may not be as urgent given the performance of one man on Saturday.
Ibrahim Sangare in action for Nottingham Forest against Estoril
Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
Douglas Luiz will have to overtake an in-form Ibrahim Sangare at Nottingham Forest
Forest’s pre-season fixtures haven’t provided many positives, but the form of Ibrahim Sangare in preparation for the new season has been worth celebrating.
Against Birmingham, the Ivorian played the full 90 minutes and looked a class above his opponents in the centre of the park, even if those in front of him didn’t look like turning possession into goals.
Now there’s no doubt that Luiz and Sangare offer different profiles in midfield, but the Brazilian will have to take Sangare’s role in the current Forest setup, as Elliot Anderson is too important to Espírito Santo.
MORE FOREST STORIES
Given that Nuno has personally requested the Luiz signing, he must have a system in mind that could suit both the Juventus man and Sangare. However, alongside Luiz, Forest have been plotting a move for Yunus Musah, who would surely be one midfielder too many for Espírito Santo to manage.
It remains to be seen just how the Forest manager integrates an abundance of talent in central areas, but having both Sangare and Luiz in a starting XI could spell trouble further forward.
Douglas Luiz could be providing competition for Morgan Gibbs-White
After a rather subdued display against Birmingham, Forest fans want to see Morgan Gibbs-White involved in more goals, perhaps suggesting that the Englishman needs to occupy positions further forward.
However, if Nuno plans to utilise Sangare and Anderson with the addition of Luiz to make a three-man midfield, this could mean that Gibbs-White suddenly finds himself under pressure to perform.
Season Appearances Goals Assists
2023/24 53 10 10
Douglas Luiz’s last season at Aston Villa
In Luiz’s last season in English football, he registered ten goals and the same number of assists, a stat list that Gibbs-White has never matched in his time at Forest.
Therefore, with Sangare dictating the tempo and Anderson providing the energy, it could be that Luiz is actually the goal threat in the midfield, putting pressure on the club’s top earner to perform.