Nottingham Forest transfer report - PSR and the summer ahead
Nuno Espirito Santo now knows the Nottingham Forest squad he will have to work with for the remainder of the campaign after the winter transfer window closed on Monday.
As it turns out, it is pretty much the same group the Portuguese had on December 31. After all, it was a relatively quiet month at the City Ground.
Aside from re-signing third-choice goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey on a short-term deal, young defender Tyler Bindon was the only new addition for the Reds. The 20-year-old will have to wait to link up with Nuno, though, as he immediately returned to Reading on loan after putting pen to paper from the Royals.
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In terms of outgoings, Andrew Omobamidele (loan to Strasbourg) and James Ward-Prowse (back to parent club West Ham United) were the only first-team departures. Lewis O’Brien (Swansea City) and Emmanuel Dennis (Blackburn Rovers) also left on loan but neither had been part of the set-up under Nuno.
With the winter window out of the way, Forest will be able to fully focus on matters on the pitch as they aim to secure European football. Below, we answer some of the key transfer questions now the Reds have wrapped up their business.
Why didn’t Forest make any big signings?
Before the window even opened, Nuno was very clear that only “special” targets should be considered. There was no need for a major overhaul anyway, given how well things have been going on the pitch, and the Reds head coach was wary of the potential to rock the boat. After all, why fix what isn’t broken?
“If it is something really special; if it is a piece - a player - that we really need and it is possible, fantastic, because we are not perfect and if somebody can help us, great. But that has to be somebody really special,” Nuno said prior to deadline day.
Up front was really the only area in need of strengthening but it had to be the right striker; someone who would improve the squad, who wanted to come and who possessed the right characteristics. From Forest’s perspective, no signing was better than a bad signing. Nuno prefers to work with a small squad anyway so you will not hear any complaints from him over the lack of additions.
In highly-regarded Bindon and teenage winger Joel Ndala, the club have made signings for the future. The latter’s arrival on loan from Manchester City was announced after deadline day. He will initially link up with the academy, with his deal including an option to make his move a permanent one.
Who did the Reds target?
Brentford’s Yoane Wissa was on their radar. He is a proven goalscorer in the Premier League and would have been a good fit, particularly given his versatility.
Forest had a bid, said to be in the region of £18-22 million, rejected and the Bees subsequently retained a clear stance that he was not for sale. “There is a lot of rumours,” boss Thomas Frank said before the window closed. “For me, again he is a Brentford player and in my opinion Wissa is not for sale. He has been our leading number nine and done fantastic, so I cannot see why we should sell him."
Reports from Brazil suggested a £25m offer had also been made for Botafogo forward Igor Jesus. However, it was claimed he rejected the chance of moving to the City Ground amid the belief staying put was best for his career.
Why didn’t Forest sell anyone?
More than anything, top of the priority list for Nuno was to keep hold of the players he had. He had taken the same approach back in the summer.
“I will reinforce what I have been saying, not only to you (the media) but also to the club, more than anything our priority was to keep the players,” he recently said. The Reds managed to do just that.
Chelsea’s interest in defender Murillo was said to have been shut down early on in January. And Roma also reportedly did not get anywhere as they eyed up Elliot Anderson.
Nuno’s side are third in the Premier League table and are absolutely flying. Keeping their band of brothers together offers the best chance of continuing in the same style. If anything, getting new contracts sorted for Murillo and striker Chris Wood was a real statement of intent.
What about the summer?
That will be a whole different kettle of fish. For a start, the club will hope their summer plans involve ensuring Nuno has the right resources for a European campaign.
The search for a striker is bound to be top of the agenda at that point. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if the Reds revisit their interest in Wissa.
Nuno admitted January represents a “difficult” window for a lot of teams and Forest were not the only ones on the lookout for more firepower. Better value for money can often be found in the summer window.
The PSR June 30 deadline has arguably created another mini transfer window. The Reds took advantage last summer when Newcastle United were forced to sell them Anderson to comply with Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
“It has had a massive effect on transfers, not only for January but also for June,” Nuno recently said. “PSR is present in the lives of football clubs these days and they have to keep looking at it.
“It has now changed everything for everybody. Nobody wants to risk a situation like we had last season (a four-point deduction for breaching the financial regulations), so that’s why you sometimes see things that don’t make much sense.”
