🦁 PL Previews: What's next for Steve Cooper and Nottingham Forest? | OneFootball

After making 30 signings over the course of last season, few people expected Nottingham Forest to settle quickly enough to survive their first Premier League campaign since 1998/99.

But Steve Cooper led Forest to safety almost entirely based on their home form – they had the worst away record in the league with just one win and eight points coming on the road. What comes next?

See all of our club previews right here.

Transfers 🔁

Out: Sam Surridge (Nashville FC, £5m), Cafú (Rotherham, free), Jack Colback (QPR, free), Will Swan (Mansfield Town, free), Josh Bowler (Cardiff City, loan), Oli Hammond (Cheltenham, loan), Dale Taylor (Wycombe, loan), Fin Back (Carlisle) Jesse Lingard, André Ayew, Adnan Kanuric, Jordan Smith, Lyle Taylor (all released)

Transfer balance: -£25m

Key fixtures 📆

🔑 Key player: Morgan Gibbs-White

Some eyebrows were raised when Forest parted ways with an initial £25m to land Gibbs-White from Wolves last summer, particularly as he spent much of the two previous seasons in the Championship on loan at Swansea and Sheffield United.

Steve Cooper knew what he was getting though, and was proved right as the attacking midfielder proved absolutely critical to Forest’s survival. Five goals and eight assists came but Gibbs-White was worth so much more to the team.

His stock has only risen over the summer, having been a key part of England’s Under 21 European Championship success, and will no doubt be the hub of all of the Reds’ creativity in the upcoming campaign.

His fee could rise to over £40m but if he keeps Forest up again, it will be money well spent.

What has changed since last season? 🤔

It has been a far quieter summer in terms of incomings at the City Ground, which makes a welcome change from the chaotic transfer window this time last year.

Chris Wood’s loan from Newcastle has been made permanent while Anthony Elanga has joined from Manchester United and could soon be joined by fellow Old Trafford academy graduate Dean Henderson, who also was on loan at Forest last season.

Former Fulham defender Ola Aina has also arrived on a free from Torino.

One ex-United player who will not be returning this season is Jesse Lingard, who left the club at the expiry of his one-year contract.

Predicted XI 🔮

(3-4-2-1) — Hennessey; McKenna, Niakhaté, Worrall; Aurier, Yates, Mangala, Aina; Gibbs-White, Awoniyi, Johnson

Where will they finish? 🏆

Premier League: 18th

FA Cup: 4th round

EFL Cup: 4th round

See all of our club previews right here.