A considered approach to the transfer window has served Nottingham Forest well so far this summer as Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad continues to take shape.
The Reds are getting some good business done, and a fair bit of it has been sorted early. With a month to go before the Reds’ opening-day clash with Bournemouth, there is already a sense of anticipation amongst fans.
Nuno will take his players to Spain for a pre-season training camp this week as they step up their preparations for the 2024/25 Premier League campaign. With that in mind, NottinghamshireLive has taken a look at the work still to be done in the transfer market…
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Key signing
Forest are closing in on the capture of Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic. If they can get this one over the line, it has the makings of being an excellent deal.
Central defence has been in desperate need of strengthening, and Milenkovic certainly has the ability to do that. At 6ft 5in and good in the air, no doubt he is seen as being able to help solve the Reds’ set-piece problems.
The 26-year-old is a good age and has bags of experience under his belt, both for club and country. A relatively low fee of a reported £12 million plus bonuses makes this one particularly attractive.
If all goes to plan, it seems likely the Serbia international would be able to link up with Forest in Spain. It would afford him a valuable opportunity to integrate into the squad.
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Nuno’s wish
With four signings made already – albeit Marko Stamenic will spend the season on loan at Olympiacos – and potentially a fifth on the way, the Reds’ do not require too many more additions. However, after last Saturday’s 3-0 friendly victory over Chesterfield, Nuno identified one particular area of the pitch in need of attention.
The Portuguese wants more attacking threat. Specifically, he wants wingers – although another striker would also be well received.
“We need more, of course,” Nuno said of the possibility of further signings. “Not too many, but I think we still need some things.
“Everyone can see we need wingers. The only natural wingers we have are Callum (Hudson-Odoi) and Anthony (Elanga).
“You always have to add the right pieces, there is no point in bringing (players) in just because. We need to nail everything down on the players we bring in.”
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Potential outgoings
Numbers have already been trimmed since the end of last term. Six players departed at the end of their contracts, five loanees returned to their parent clubs and a handful of sales have been overseen.
Good money was brought in for Odysseas Vlachodimos, Orel Mangala and Moussa Niakhate. Youngster Brandon Aguilera has also headed elsewhere.
But a few fringe players remain, and the focus in the coming weeks will be on trying to get some moves secured. Nuno hinted that would be the case after the game with the Spireites.
Joe Worrall, Emmanuel Dennis, Josh Bowler and Lewis O’Brien featured in the friendly after returning from loan spells. But along with the likes of Jonathan Panzo, Alex Mighten and Hwang Ui-jo, their futures could well lie away from the City Ground.
“They are our players. We are taking care of them, because they are part of the club. We will embrace them and prepare them, then we will make decisions,” Nuno said.
“We still have a long way to go. We have to take a good look at all of the aspects and decide what is best for them and their careers. We are really careful with those situations.”
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