With the dust settled on the 2023/24 campaign, Nottingham Forest have quickly made a start on shaping their squad for next season – but there is plenty of work still to be done.
The Reds published their retained list earlier this week, with six senior players departing at the end of their contracts. Wayne Hennessey, Felipe, Cheikhou Kouyate, Scott McKenna, Loic Mbe Soh and Harry Arter will leave the club as free agents when their deals officially run out at the end of this month.
Defenders Willy Boly and Ola Aina were also due to be out of contract this summer but both will stay put. The former has penned a new deal and an extension has been activated for his teammate.
Further big decisions will need to be taken in the weeks ahead. It is an important summer for the club as they look to push on next term, and ensuring they have the right squad in place will be key.
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo wants to work with a tight group, while Forest also have to bear in mind financial restrictions. They do not want to fall foul of Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) again.
The next PSR assessment period will cover the three years up to June 30, effectively creating a mini transfer window. Clubs, including the Reds, who need to balance the books before then will have to consider overseeing some early sales. Below, we take a look at some of the players with uncertain futures at the City Ground.
Murillo
Nuno admitted after the final game of 2023/24 that interest in some of Forest’s exciting young talent is inevitable this summer. Murillo already has a substantial list of admirers after a breakthrough season. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, PSG, Real Madrid and Barcelona have all been credited with an interest in the Brazilian. The Reds are well aware of what he is worth; they value him highly. But can they hang on to him, particularly with the financial rules in mind?
Morgan Gibbs-White
Along with Murillo, Morgan Gibbs-White was one of the Reds’ standout performers as survival was secured. And that means other clubs will have been taking note, fully aware of Forest’s financial situation. Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs to have been linked with the attacker. He would be incredibly difficult to replace, though.
Odysseas Vlachodimos
An assessment of the Reds’ goalkeeper situation looks to be on the cards once again this summer. It is a position Nuno may well look to strengthen, while there could also be a departure on the cards. Earlier this year, reports suggested Odysseas Vlachodimos would potentially seek a move away from the City Ground at the end of the campaign amid a lack of game time.
Joe Worrall
Academy graduate Joe Worrall spent the second half of the season just gone on loan with Besiktas. An option to buy was included in the deal with the Turkish outfit, but the defender is on the radar of Sheffield United. He would likely cost the Blades about £4 million.
Jonathan Panzo
The 2023/24 campaign proved to be somewhat mixed for Jonathan Panzo. He started the season on loan at Cardiff City but made just five appearances for the Bluebirds. A switch to Standard Liege followed. The defender did get a bit more game time in Belgium but was still not a frequent starter. At 23, he is at an age where playing regularly is important.
Alex Mighten
As with Panzo, Alex Mighten also finds himself at something of a crucial crossroads in his career. The 22-year-old has had a few loan spells in recent seasons – some more successful than others. His most recent stint, from January onwards, was with Port Vale and comprised 10 appearances, three of which were starts.
Lewis O’Brien
Midfielder Lewis O’Brien previously hinted he would be open to turning his loan spell at Middlesbrough into a permanent one. Since then, however, it has been reported Boro have decided against pursuing a deal for the former Huddersfield Town man. He has also been linked with Sheffield United and Preston North End.
Orel Mangala
The future is not so much up in the air for Orel Mangala as almost certain to involve a departure from the City Ground. Forest are set to benefit to the tune of £30 million when his loan to Lyon is turned into a permanent move. Get Football News France have reported his contract will run until 2027.
Josh Bowler
Winger Josh Bowler made 39 appearances and scored five goals for Cardiff City during his season-long loan. The previous term he had been on loan at Olympiacos and then former club Blackpool. It remains to be seen whether he can force his way into Nuno’s thinking.
Callum Hudson-Odoi
What an end to the season Callum Hudson-Odoi had. The winger hit a great run of form in the final months of the campaign and played a key role in getting the Reds over the line. It is perhaps no surprise his performances made others sit up and take note. Tottenham have been linked, but Forest fans will hope he is going nowhere.
Emmanuel Dennis
It is going to be interesting to see what happens with Emmanuel Dennis, given Forest could do with strengthening their attacking resources. Can he provide an option? Nuno might want to take a look at him, but his future is still uncertain. The 26-year-old’s loan stint with former club Watford from January onwards yielded four goals in 18 appearances.
Hwang Ui-jo
Striker Hwang Ui-jo has had a succession of loans since he joined the Reds in the summer of 2022. Steve Cooper had a look at him last pre-season before the forward headed elsewhere. There is a question mark over whether Nuno will also want to cast an eye over the forward this time around.
