Nottingham Forest already know summer transfer shopping list as priority is clear
By the time the next transfer window comes around, Nottingham Forest will hope it involves planning for a European adventure.
It might have been a quiet January for the Reds but it will be a different story in a few months’ time - particularly if this term ends with the club back on the very big stage. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are third with 14 games left to play and on course for a special season.
The Forest head coach was wary of rocking the boat in the winter window. After all, why try to fix what isn’t broken? His priority was to keep the band together.
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Other than re-signing third-choice goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, just one new face was added before Monday’s deadline. Young defender Tyler Bindon joined from Reading but immediately headed back on loan to the Royals.
The 20-year-old is highly regarded and has been tipped to shine in the Premier League one day. Similarly, the Reds recruited teenage winger Joel Ndala on loan from Manchester City with one eye on the future as the deal includes the potential for his switch to become a permanent one.
Whether to take that option up will be one of the decisions for Forest to make in the summer. Their biggest call, though, will be with regards to bringing in a striker.
Sourcing a forward has been on the agenda in the past two windows and it will surely be pushed to the top of the to-do list for the end of the season. After all, many fans are already keeping fingers and toes crossed that Chris Wood stays injury free for the remainder of the campaign.
The 33-year-old New Zealander has been in stellar form and has been backed to continue in that groove for some time to come. Nuno has consistently stated he is confident Taiwo Awoniyi can also get back to his best. Nevertheless, planning for the longer term while also bolstering Nuno’s forward resources will be required.
Yoane Wissa was a target in the winter window but Brentford were insistent he wasn’t for sale as the Reds had a bid turned down. It will be interesting to see if the club revive their interest in the summer.
Left-back is another area in line for being addressed at that point. The club must decide whether to take up the option to sign Aston Villa loanee Alex Moreno on a permanent basis.
At present, the Spaniard is behind Neco Williams in the pecking order. Williams has been superb in recent weeks, and Forest could do with getting him tied down to a new deal given his contract expires in 2026 - likewise winger Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Omar Richards also has 16 months to run on his terms. The former Bayern Munich man is currently on loan at Rio Ave as he looks to recover from a nightmare couple of years on the injury front.
The Reds must weigh up whether Richards can have a part to play under Nuno. It seems unlikely both he and Moreno, in addition to Williams, would be kept on as left-back options.
Ola Aina, of course, can also operate on that flank. The sooner Forest get a new deal sorted for the Nigerian, the better. An automatic year’s extension is set to be triggered on the full-back’s contract, which is due to expire in the summer. However, talks have taken place regarding a further extension.
The Reds also still have Harry Toffolo on the books as another left-back. However, he will become a free agent in the summer and it would be no surprise to see the ex-Huddersfield Town man move on.
The same applies for Jonathan Panzo, who is on loan at Rio Ave. The club hold an option to retain defender Willy Boly for a further year but he has been linked with a switch to Saudi Arabia.
Goalkeeper Hennessey completes the list of those players coming to the end of their deals. The Welshman signed a short-term contract last month and a coaching role may well be found when it expires.
