Nottingham Forest’s remarkable rise from the bottom of the Championship to the verge of a play-off final is a fine advertisement for the loan market. But, as Forest fans are about to find out, there are negatives as well as positives when it comes to signing players on short-term deals.
“I’ve said in the past, down the line, we need to come away from having loans,” Steve Cooper told Wales Online when he was still in charge of Swansea City. “Each window we need to be signing permanent players and building our own team.”
Cooper made those comments in January 2021. They are arguably even more pertinent now. Because, even if Forest do secure their place back in the big time – returning to the Premier League for the first time since Coldplay were mapping out their debut album – it remains to be seen how many of their promotion heroes return for another spell at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest’s 2022/23 Premier League XI?
Djed Spence, Keinan Davis, Philip Zinckernagel and James Garner are all due to leave the two-time European champions this summer as things stand.
Manchester United’s paper-thin midfield options mean Garner could be handed a key role under Erik Ten Hag at Old Trafford, ditto Davis at Villa Park. The rampaging Spence has already been the subject of two bids from Tottenham Hotspur. And Zinckernagel will surely be offered a second chance at a Watford side who could make full use of his defence-splitting capabilities as they look to bounce back from yet another relegation.
Incomings and outgoings?
Replacing any, let alone all, of the aforementioned quartet will be easier said than done.
Bristol Live claims that Nottingham Forest are keeping very close tabs on Kane Wilson, arguably the most consistent attacking right-back in the whole of the EFL in 2021/22. But while Wilson contributed a remarkable 17 goals and assists to Forest Green’s title-winning campaign, the step up from the Mansfield to Manchester City is substantial, to say the least.
When it comes to replacing Garner, Sean Longstaff offers proven Premier League quality, even if he hasn’t lived up to early expectations at Newcastle United (Mirror). Longstaff will be a free agent in July. So will Joe Rothwell, Blackburn’s ball-carrying dynamo. According to The Telegraph, Forest are planning to offer Rothwell a contract at the City Ground.
Though Ryan Yates will not give up his spot without a fight. Neither will Jack Colback.
Forest made a handful of bids for Zian Flemming last summer but failed to meet Fortuna Sittard’s asking price. An influx of cash following promotion would put Cooper and co in a position of real strength if they plan to renew their interest in a silky attacking midfielder who was disappointed to miss out on a move to the East Midlands after hitting 15 goals in 2020/21.
Who will Nottingham Forest sign this summer?
Flemming would help replace Zinckernagel’s cutting edge and creativity in the final third, while forming a telepathic understanding with whoever ends up leading the line for Cooper next term. Lewis Grabban’s contract has not been extended, while Davis will be given pre-season to force his way into Aston Villa’s first-team plans.
Forest failed with approaches for the likes of Cyriel Dessers, Yuma Suzuki, Sandro Kulenovic and Mbala Nzola last year and the trail – with all four players – has gone cold since then. Martin Satriano, Inter Milan’s Uruguayan wonderkid dubbed the second coming of Luis Suarez, is one intriguing option (The Athletic).
Forest also like Antoine Semenyo, a pacey, punchy and ever-improving attacker who has come on leaps and bounds at Bristol City. The Robins demanded £20 million when Forest came calling in January.
And they will need to part with a club-record fee if they plan to renew their interest in the summer. The riches of the Premier League would make that a genuine possibility.
The likes of Paul Mukairu (Copenhagen), Jack Rudoni (AFC Wimbledon) and Josh Bowler (Blackpool) are other names on Forest’s radar. All three, technically-gifted, young and affordable, tick a lot of boxes as far as Dane Murphy, Forest’s CEO, is concerned. Bowler, one of the Championship’s most exciting attackers, is expected to leave Blackpool after one season at Bloomfield Road.
Emmanuel Longelo, West Ham’s highly-rated young left-back, is another option, per The Athletic. As is Connor Goldson, a colossal centre-half who’s superb passing range would suit Cooper’s progressive approach down to the ground (Scottish Sun).
Goldson, a major player in the Rangers side who reached the Europa League final, is out of contract. Then again, given the way Joe Worrall, Steve Cook and Scott McKenna have performed under Cooper, there’s no guarantee Goldson – if he does arrive – would slot straight into the starting XI.
- How Rangers’ XI could look in 22/23, including 5 new signings
- How West Ham’s XI could look in 22/23 with 4 new signings
Brennan Johnson stays
But while Spence, Garner and co may leave even if Steve Cooper is washing the champagne out of his eyes on May 29th, promotion to the Premier League will be key to Nottingham Forest’s hopes of retaining arguably 2021/22’s star player. Homegrown hero Brennan Johnson.
Forest’s top scorer deserves to showcase his talents on the biggest of stages. But he doesn’t necessarily need to force his way out the door in order to make that happen.
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