Premier League 2025-26 Preview No 16: Nottingham Forest

Guardian writers’ predicted position: 12th (NB: this is not needfully Will Unwin’s prediction but nan mean of our writers’ tips)

Last season’s position: 7th

Prospects

There is simply a consciousness they will request to beryllium amended successful possession and predominate games because playing doubly a week, erstwhile European title begins, is particularly difficult for a squad who are chasing nan shot and playing connected nan counter. The strategy has worked good for Nuno Espírito Santo successful nan past, but location is simply a consciousness improvement is required to support Forest up of nan game. Pre-season has brought an early displacement successful style and nan alteration has been enthusiastically welcomed wrong nan club.

One problem has been evident: they are struggling to score. Forest played 7 friendlies, scoring erstwhile and enduring 5 goalless draws. It was not perfect mentation for building connected an incredibly successful year, but everyone will hide arsenic agelong arsenic early points are picked up. A deficiency of chances being created has not been nan issue, much composure successful beforehand of goal, which could lead to different striker being welcomed.

The loss of Anthony Elanga is simply a problem overmuch clip complete caller weeks has been spent trying to solve. His electrical gait was instrumental successful Nuno’s plans and uncovering a nonstop replacement is difficult erstwhile nan predecessor astir apt could situation for an Olympic sprinting medal, but location are precocious expectations of Dan Ndoye aft his club-record signing.

Considering everyone expected Morgan Gibbs-White to subordinate Tottenham for £60m, nan truth he has stayed and signed a caller three-year contract is unthinkable news for nan club. Evangelos Marinakis has received plentifulness of disapproval since Forest’s promotion, but deserves in installments for single-handedly taking connected nan domiciled of convincing Gibbs-White to perpetrate astatine nan City Ground.

Forest fell short successful the hunt for nan Champions League arsenic tiredness crept into a shallow squad precocious connected and are waiting for much extent to beryllium added. A full-back, midfielder, winger and striker stay connected nan shopping list.

The manager

Nuno tin do nary incorrect aft starring Forest into Europe for nan first clip successful 30 years. There is plentifulness of quiet charm to nan erstwhile goalkeeper, who keeps things elemental astir nan training crushed and is respected by everyone who comes into interaction pinch him. He whitethorn want to push connected from finishing an unthinkable seventh, but maintaining nan stableness he has brought is nan astir important thing. Balancing home and continental competitions will beryllium imperative because it is simply a good equilibrium for a mid-table side.

Off-field picture

The erstwhile Arsenal sporting head Edu has joined nan wider group arsenic world caput of football. It whitethorn explicate why nan Brazilian/Botafogo marketplace has been further explored, arsenic does nan adjacent narration betwixt Marinakis and John Textor, but nan wider effect is yet to beryllium seen. The Gibbs-White saga pinch Forest complaining astir an alleged forbidden attack by Tottenham, and nan hold to find retired whether nan nine would beryllium successful nan Europa League aliases Conference League, ensured things were not calm. Forest were granted readying support to grow nan City Ground to 35,000 by constructing a caller 10,000-seat stand.

Star signing

Ndoye is their grounds signing and nan determination to walk €40m connected nan Swiss winger was not made lightly. A replacement for Elanga was needed and Ndoye was quickly targeted aft sparkling pinch Bologna, helping them scope nan Champions League and gaining immoderate European experience. At 24, location is room for improvement, which fits nan club’s transportation strategy. He is not arsenic speedy arsenic Elanga, but his stats are impressive, including scoring 8 goals and creating different 4 successful 30 Serie A appearances past season. An eagerness to trial himself successful nan Premier League was cardinal to nan move.

Nottingham Forest signed nan Swiss winger Dan Ndoye for a nine grounds €40m to switch Anthony Elanga. Photograph: Catherine Ivill/AMA/Getty Images

Stepping up

Zach Abbott signed a caller four-year woody during nan summertime and is highly extremely thought of astatine nan City Ground. He was fixed a astonishment first commencement astatine right-back successful nan FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, having started successful his much regular centre-back domiciled against Newcastle successful nan Carabao Cup, and will beryllium eager to build connected nan experience. The 19-year-old has been portion of nan first-team squad for nan past mates of seasons but has made 3 appearances and is yet to look successful nan Premier League. Considering nan summation successful matches caused by European qualification, it feels inevitable he will get much opportunities.

A large play for …

Taiwo Awoniyi helped support Forest successful nan apical formation pinch important goals successful his first season. Fitness and shape person since caused nan Nigerian problems, and it has not helped him that Chris Wood has go 1 of nan finest strikers successful nan Premier League, limiting Awoniyi’s chances. It mixed to time off him pinch 2 goals from 32 games past season. Awoniyi looked crisp successful pre-season, giving nan belief his physicality, velocity and finishing could again beryllium an plus to Nuno, but will request an early extremity to ignite his confidence.