Nottingham Forest have been busy in the transfer market, with plenty of ins and outs. Has the team ended up stronger?
Nottingham Forest manager Philippe Montanier
This summer represented a tricky prospect for the club, as new manager Phillipe Montanier arrived at Forest and had a matter of weeks to get to grips with his squad of players – and work out where he needed to strengthen.
Despite that, Forest have been busy in the window, and the dealings have continued right up until the deadline. Let’s examine their business, transfer by transfer, and discuss how effective a transfer window it’s been for Nottingham Forest.
A couple of notable outgoings
Oliver Burke in action with Brighton’s Liam Rosenior
Forest actually didn’t sell a player until late on in the window, but departures came in a late flurry. First-choice goalkeeper Dorus de Vries left to join Scottish champions Celtic, and winger Jamie Paterson joined Bristol City for an undisclosed fee.
But undoubtedly the most disappointing sale from a Forest fans’ point of view is the £13 million departure of 19 year-old winger Olly Burke to Rasenball Sport Leipzig.
Burke had made a terrific start to the season, scoring four goals in five games, and Premier League clubs were rumoured to be interested in his signature. But Burke raised eyebrows by opting for RBL, much to the dismay of the Forest fans who were hoping that he wouldn’t be sold at all by the club. If Forest had eyes on promotion this season, then Burke could have certainly played a big part in that. Of course they can spend the fee on other players that they’d like to bring in, but the sale of Burke so soon into his Forest senior career will have concerned supporters about how much ambition the club has at the moment.
Some exciting incomings
Nottingham Forest’s Thomas Lam celebrates with his new team-mates
Forest have strengthened in practically every position this summer. Without outlaying much cash in terms of transfer fees, they have brought in a number of players, many of whom have years to develop at the City Ground.
Two goalkeepers have been brought in, in the shape of Vladimir Stojkovic, and former Charlton stopper Stephen Henderson. New arrivals have joined across the backline as well, with Armand Traore, Damien Perquis and Thomas Lam all joining the club on free transfers from QPR, Toronto and PEC Zwolle respectively. 20-year-old Hildeberto Pereira has also joined on loan from Benfica, and has slotted into the line-up at right-back as well as right-wing.
The central midfield position has also been addressed, with the loan signing of former Fulham player Pajtim Kasami completed just after the new season got underway. And finally a striker has also been signed – former Everton striker Apostolos Vellios has joined from Greek side Iraklis, in the only deal that has included a fee so far this window, a figure of around £1 million.
Still Forest chase new signings, and it appears deadline day has well and truly begun at the club with the signing of winger Muzzy Carayol from Middlesbrough, and the potential recruitment of Napoli striker Nicolao Dimitru on a loan basis.
The highlights of these deals? Well, Pajtim Kasami and Thomas Lam have both opened their accounts for the club with some important goals, and Hildeberto Pereira is one to look out for this season after impressing so far. So, plenty of bolstering of the squad by Forest, as they look to challenge for a play-off place this season.
Some crucial players have remained at the club
Nottingham Forest’s Britt Assombalonga is still at the club
Arguably just as important as all of the fresh faces at the City Ground, is the re-appearance of some more familiar ones. Perhaps most crucial of all the retained players is striker Britt Assombalonga, who had been linked with a move away from the club as top end Championship clubs scouted around for a proven goalscorer at second tier level. The fact that Assombalonga is still at the club might just be Forest’s best piece of business this window, as forwards like the Congolese are hard to come by, and expensive too.
Equally important a player to keep is captain Henri Lansbury, who seems to be linked with other clubs in just about every transfer window for the last couple of years. Of course new signings are important in Montanier’s revamp of the Forest squad, but keeping key players like Assombalonga and Lansbury is vital for the team dynamics as well.
It’s been a very lively transfer window from Nottingham Forest’s perspective, and it has brought with it expectation from the fans with regard to what their team can achieve this season. The fresh faces will still need time to acclimatise to their new team, but the club have completed some exciting business which could carry Forest a long way this season. The sale of their number 1 keeper and a bright young talent is a risk for sure, but Forest have been able to balance their books as well as add plenty of quality to the squad. And who’s to say they may not look to bring in on or two more before the window slams shut? Watch this space Forest fans.
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