The build-up to Nottingham Forest's return to the Premier League is well and truly underway with transfer rumours flying in from all over the place.
It has been just over a week since Levi Colwill's own-goal sent the Reds into the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Huddersfield Town at Wembley in the Championship play-off final. After 23 long years of hurt away from the top-flight, Forest are back where they belong.
Steve Cooper has been tasked with building a squad capable of competing in the Premier League, adding quality individuals to an already talented core spine of the team.
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The Reds are known to have an interest in signing last season's loanees on permanent deals. They are trying to persuade Aston Villa to sell them Keinan Davis, they are willing to match Middlesbrough's asking price for Djed Spence, and they have reportedly expressed an interest in signing Philip Zinckernagel too.
In the eight days since Forest's triumph at Wembley, at least 18 players have been linked with moves to the City Ground. Some have been deemed "laughable" by supporters, whilst others have piqued an interest.
We are fully aware that most of these names will soon be forgotten as the Reds recruit their own targets, but for a bit of fun we have taken a look at every one of those players identified as possible targets and looked to see how Forest could line-up if each one came to fruition.
Burnley's relegation to the Championship has Nick Pope seeking a move away in order to keep his England hopes alive. The 30-year-old wants to stay in the Premier League - something a move to Forest would offer - although an asking price of £40m would almost certainly rule the Reds out of a deal.
It seems a strange rumour given the Reds have Brice Samba and Ethan Horvath in the ranks already, but the England shot-stopper stands between the posts in our hypothetical starting eleven.
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Cooper has deployed a defensive trio in most of matches as Forest boss. Fortunately, we've got plenty of options to pick from in the form of Atilla Szalai, Connor Goldson, Joe Rodon and Jamaal Lascelles. Goldson has recently signed a new deal with Rangers, so we'll pick Szalai, Rodon and Lascelles to start at the back.
Callum Styles has reportedly been told he is free to find a new club after suffering relegation to League One with Barnsley. Rather than facing the likes of Accrington Stanley, Exeter City and Derby County in the third tier, he could be tempted by fixtures against Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea with Forest. He'll be used out on the left-wing.
Tom Lawrence may be more of a left-wing for Derby, but the right-wing position is one which has seen fairly limited transfer rumours for Forest. He has scored three goals and contributed eight assists in his 20 appearances in that position. Onto the right we'll put him.
In a midfield trio we'll deploy Morgan Gibbs-White ahead of Southampton youngster Will Smallbone and free agent Joe Rothwell. Gibbs-White is a known talent to Cooper and they have a strong relationship thanks to their days at Swansea City. Rothwell, out of contract at Ewood Park this summer, is a versatile option at 27-years-old being able to feature in central midfield or on either wing.
Smallbone, whilst relatively untested, could be a star waiting to happen. After all, diamonds are made under pressure.
Up-front we'll place Armando Broja and Ben Brereton Diaz. A return to Nottingham Forest could have somewhat of a sentimental value for Brereton, especially with the Reds now in the top-flight. Broja, understood to be available for another loan from Chelsea, could be given another opportunity to develop his talents away from Stamford Bridge.
Hypothetical Nottingham Forest transfer rumours XI: Pope, Szalai, Rodon Lascelles, Styles, Lawrence, Smallbone, Rothwell, Gibbs-White, Borja, Brereton Diaz.
So there we have it, a team of 11 players formed from just a handful of the transfer rumours to have engulfed Forest before the transfer window even opens officially on June 10. A huge number of players have missed out on our starting eleven, including rumours such as Manchester City youngster Issa Kabore which seem more likely than others, but that's management for you.
