Nottingham Forest legend Garry Birtles believe his old club are well placed to beat their rivals to their top transfer targets this summer.
The Reds secured a second season of Premier League football with a 16th placed finish after signing 30 players after promotion.
Birtles does not believe Forest will be anything like as busy this summer as he calls for them to add quality to the squad in order to ensue they are not in another relegation battle. Rivals will look to make additions as well, but the European Cup winner says the atmosphere at the club and among fans will be a pull factor.
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He also feels manager Steve Cooper's record will entice players - and that could be especially relevant in the case of Callum Hudson-Odoi after the Chelsea winger was today linked with a £10m move. The 22-year-old already knows Cooper from playing for him in the England Under-17s set up.
"The preparation for next season is going to be massive, as it always is," Birtles told the Garibaldi Red podcast. "Every Premier League club who managed to stay up will want to build.
"Bournemouth and Fulham will want to protect their status like us. It's never easy as there aren't that many great players to sign but because of what we achieved this season people will want to come to our football club.
"The atmosphere at the City Ground is incredible and the away support is unbelievable. You've got a manager who I hope doesn't go anywhere else.
"People have been asking me if he is staying and asking if he's going to Crystal Palace. These are the stories you don't want to hear as he's done an incredible job.
"I was looking at manager of the year and thinking where is Steve Cooper's name? What he's done in two seasons here is just incredible. The same for his coaching staff and everyone at the club.
"Sticking with Steve Cooper was the best decision the owner has made and you have to give him credit.
"Recruitment is paramount. If you get that right you've got a chance. They don't need to buy too many players this summer. It's going to be an interesting one.
"People will want to come here because of what Steve Cooper has done. They can see it's a happy well run club. I go back to Chelsea and it's mediocre.
"If you get it right off the pitch you'll get it right on the pitch. Steve Cooper, I can't speak highly enough of him. He's been inspirational to everyone in Nottingham.
"We aren't a massive city. For him to do what's done has been unbelievable. Everyone wrote us off but it was fully deserved that we stayed up."
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