Nottingham Forest face an important summer transfer window as they aim to make progress in the Premier League.
Looking to build on their survival season, the Reds know they must strengthen their squad in order to kick on. That means incomings and outgoings on the banks of the Trent.
Clubs can officially start doing business on Wednesday, when the window opens. With that in mind, NottinghamshireLive gives you our transfer predictions for the summer ahead.
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Sarah Clapson
This summer will not be anywhere near as busy as last year’s - that’s one prediction everyone can make with a fair degree of certainty. But it is going to be just as interesting.
For Forest to make progress in the Premier League next season, there’s a lot riding on getting it right when the window opens. The teams who have gone down show how a few bad decisions - albeit not just on transfers - can have huge consequences. Quality over quantity is definitely the aim when it comes to incomings, while there will also be a focus on moving others on in order to trim numbers.
The noises about the Reds being able to get a deal over the line for Dean Henderson are positive. Forest to announce his arrival by simply posting a picture of a cap on social media when they do is the great hope.
Will the club record get smashed again as owner Evangelos Marinakis splashes the cash to strengthen the squad? Getting Henderson will probably involve pushing the initial £25 million shelled out on Morgan Gibbs-White close, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man holds the title of club record signing for a little longer. There is likely to be at least some degree of cautious/sensible spending, after all.
Lessons may well have been learnt from how Jesse Lingard’s time Trentside panned out. Snapping up a big name doesn’t always pay off. No doubt the Reds will be linked with a whole host of glamour signings again. But a repeat of the hype surrounding Lingard? Not likely.
Expect Forest’s resolve to hang on to Brennan Johnson to be tested, though. The way he took to the top-flight will have made others sit up and take notice to a greater extent than they already had been doing. The same could also be said for Gibbs-White.
As for other predictions… Harry Arter to still be in situ come September, "Coopercabana" to gain another Brazilian wonderkid and a quiet deadline day after the Reds have got all their business done nice and early. We can but hope on that last one.
Matt Davies
The outgoing business Forest do this summer might be almost as important as the incoming section, not least because it could impact their budget significantly.
Forest still find themselves paying the price for their misguided transfer policy of years gone by. I don't know who Harry Arter's agent is, but he's up there with Jorge Mendes for getting the contract he has for his client.
Jonjo Shelvey threatens to end up in the same category as Arter when it comes to bad deals so Forest will be eager to move him on, but can they find a taker for any kind of fee? Other players will have to go given Forest's bloated list of senior players.
It shouldn't be hard to find takers for players like Steve Cook. Lewis O'Brien, Scott McKenna, Sam Surridge and Alex Mighten will be in the same boat too if they or the club decide to part ways, although all four can make good cases they deserve another shot at the Premier League, especially O'Brien.
In terms of incomings, as Sarah says, Dean Henderson is well placed to solve Forest's goalkeeping issue. Renan Lodi looks a harder deal to do sadly, but Omar Richards could be just as good. We just don't know.
Forest need an athletic midfielder who can give them a greater measure of control on games, especially if they play a back four. Tyler Adams would fit the bill nicely if, or when, he leaves Leeds. A number nine is also needed if money allows, mainly because we saw how Forest struggled when Taiwo Awoniyi was injured. Chris Wood faces a big challenge to prove to his critics he can provide adequate competition.
In terms of predictions, Forest won't be able to resist making one marquee signing in the same vein as Jesse Lingard, although hopefully with more success. The Brazilian market will continue to be exploited and Remo Freuler and Emmanuel Dennis will be sold at a loss to free up space in the squad for players who are more suited to how Forest play under Cooper.
Both are good players but Forest's end of season line-up and the success of it might mean the writing is on the wall from them. Finally, Gustavo Scarpa could be a real X factor in games even if off the bench if he has a good pre-season.
What transfer business should Forest do this summer? Have your say in the comments below
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