Head coach Steve Cooper says there has been a clear strategy behind putting Nottingham Forest’s transfer “jigsaw puzzle” together.
The Reds have had a busy summer window as they prepare to make the step up to the Premier League, and they are not finished yet. Ten new signings have come through the door so far - albeit one, Brandon Aguilera, has immediately gone out on loan.
Further arrivals are still being targeted, while other players will add to the list of those to have already departed. Cooper has been very clear, however, on the club’s approach to their transfer business.
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“There’s loads of good players that are available or you can buy or you get offered to you,” he told NottinghamshireLive after his team’s 3-1 friendly win over Hertha Berlin. “But it’s not just that. Obviously we want good players, but we want good players who fit our way of playing, fit our culture and fit our atmosphere.
“There’s lots of things which go into that. It’s like trying to put a jigsaw together, really.
“All of the players we have signed so far - and have kept, if you like - everyone knows they are good players, but they are players who suit how I want the team to play. And they act and work and behave in the right way.”
Harry Toffolo and Lewis O’Brien became the latest additions to Cooper’s squad when they joined from Huddersfield Town on Wednesday. They followed Taiwo Awoniyi, Dean Henderson, Giulian Biancone, Omar Richards, Moussa Niakhate, Neco Williams, Wayne Hennessey and Aguilera in putting pen to paper at the City Ground.
Heading in the opposite direction, Forest saw the five loanees - who all played integral roles last term - return to their parent clubs. Out of contract quartet Tobias Figueiredo, Gaetan Bong, Carl Jenkinson and Lewis Grabban have left, while Brice Samba and Jayden Richardson made permanent moves, and Mohamed Drager, Ethan Horvath, Will Swan, Tyrese Fornah, Jonathan Panzo, Fin Back and Riley Harbottle have gone on loan.
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