What do Nottingham Forest need to do in the summer transfer window? | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest are back in Europe for the first time since 1996, after their seventh-place finish confirmed that they will be in the UEFA Conference League.

The potential outgoings of Morgan Gibbs-White, as well as other fringe players including Willy Boly and Harry Toffolo means that Nuno Espírito Santo will need to dip into the transfer market to improve squad depth.

Here are the key areas in which Forest will need to strengthen for next season:

Competition for Wood

Like most other teams, Forest will need to add a striker to their ranks this summer. They have been looking to do so for the last two seasons and will want to add someone to provide competition for Chris Wood.

Fortunately for the Reds, Wood had an outstanding season leading the line, becoming the first player to score 20 goals in a single season for the club since 1995.

However, at 33, Nuno may seek a long-term option to replace the New Zealand international, with the lure of European football working in their favour.

Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, USA international Josh Sargent and Algerian forward Mohamed Amoura are potential options.

More expensive options include Victor Osimhen and Darwin Nunez, although they might be out of Forest’s reach.

Defensive additions

While Nottingham Forest had one of the most impressive backlines this season, with Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic standouts across the entire league, the Reds will still need to strengthen defensively ahead of next season.

Morato, Alex Moreno and teenager Zach Abbott provided adept backup this season, but the demands of European football may require some improvements in the fringe player department.

When Nuno did decide to rotate, there were difficulties replicating the high standard that his full strength side were playing at.

Full-backs Hugo Bueno and Bright Osayi-Samuel are players that Forest are said to have been interested in recently, and with the likely departure of Alex Moreno, it is an area they will need to reinforce in.

Bueno spent a season on loan at Feyenoord from Wolves, but his future at Molineux is uncertain with several clubs interested in the 22-year-old.

Osayi-Samuel could make a return to England after leaving QPR for Turkish giants Fenerbahce back in 2021, boasting very similar attributes to Neco Williams at right-back.

Gibbs-White replacement?

Manchester City have been heavily linked with a move for Forest’s star man.

The 25-year-old has been a stalwart at the City Ground for the last three seasons, but Forest may face a battle to keep him this summer.

The Reds will need to have an ideal replacement lined up if Gibbs-White does leave given his importance to the side. Coventry City’s Jack Rudoni and Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham could prove to be astute options.

Rudoni had 22 goal involvements in the Championship for the Sky Blues, and with no promotion on the cards for Frank Lampard’s side, may embrace the step up to England’s top tier.

Bellingham has a multitude of suitors already waiting for him, with reports of Eintracht Frankfurt already meeting with his representatives. It will take a significant offer to convince him, but the 19-year-old would be a clever long-term signing to fill the void.

Tough decisions?

Forest surprised everyone with their performance this past season, but in order to keep improving and to build on their return to Europe, tough decisions may have to be made.

They have a strong squad with several talented players but improving their overall quality will be key if they are to ensure this season is not a one-off. This might require some tough decisions to replace some talented starters with even better ones.