The glaring gap in Nottingham Forest squad as transfer business leaves Nuno with dilemma but unfortunately….
Nuno Espirito Santo wanted Nottingham Forest to emerge from the summer transfer window with a squad containing sufficient “options and solutions”.
The Reds head coach prefers to work with a small group so values players with versatility. But he also wants to have suitable resources at his disposal to orchestrate a push up the Premier League table.
Forest made a total of 11 signings before the August 30 deadline. Carlos Miguel, Eric da Silva Moreira, Nikola Milenkovic, Morato, Alex Moreno, Elliot Anderson, James Ward-Prowse, Jota Silva and Ramon Sosa have been settling in Trentside, while Marko Stamenic and David Carmo will spend the campaign on loan at Olympiacos.
Some good business has been done, with most of the new additions having made positive early impressions. Below, we take a look at the strength in depth of Nuno’s squad now the transfer window has closed.
The summer was always likely to bring about a reshuffle between the posts for the Reds. Perhaps the one surprise is Matt Turner got the green light to join Crystal Palace on loan on deadline day despite Forest not signing two keepers during the window.
Matz Sels has retained the No.1 spot so far but Miguel did well when he got his chance against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup. The Brazilian recovered from conceding just a few seconds into his debut to make some good saves.
Turner’s departure means Nuno does have just the two senior stoppers in the ranks. They are both capable keepers, but it might be an area the club revisit in January having been linked with a number of potential options this summer.
Goalkeepers on the books: Matz Sels, Carlos Miguel, Matt Turner (on loan at Crystal Palace).
Who gets the nod at full-back as the season progresses is going to be an interesting one. Moreno will have made the loan switch from Aston Villa with minutes in mind.
Ola Aina made the left-back spot his own last season but is capable of operating on the right. Moreno’s arrival may mean the Nigerian does eventually find himself deployed on the opposite flank.
Neco Williams will have something to say about that, however. And in Moreira, Forest look to have brought in a defender with plenty of potential.
As with other members of the squad, Moreira can play in a few different positions. He is comfortable as a wing-back as well as a right-back, and can also step in as a winger.
Like Aina, Williams can also fill in on both sides. Newcomer Morato has played as an emergency left-back before, although observers from his time at Benfica suggest he wasn’t particularly comfortable there.
Whether Omar Richards has a part to play in the future remains to be seen as he looks to rediscover form on another loan spell. For now, though, Nuno has plenty of cover on both flanks.
Full-backs on the books: Neco Williams, Ola Aina, Eric da Silva Moreira, Harry Toffolo, Alex Moreno, Omar Richards (on loan at Rio Ave).
