Nottingham Forest Must Make More Signings to Continue Growing and Improving in the Premier League
Nottingham Forest’s head coach, Steve Cooper, believes that the club needs to make more new signings if they want to continue their growth and improvement in the Premier League. Despite starting their second season in the top flight with a 2-1 defeat against Arsenal, there were reasons for optimism compared to their previous visit to the Emirates, where they suffered a 5-0 defeat.
One of the new signings, Anthony Elanga, made an explosive assist for Taiwo Awoniyi, showcasing his potential following his £15 million arrival from Manchester United. Other new arrivals, goalkeeper Matt Turner and wing-back Ola Aina, also impressed. However, Cooper is eager to see more business done as a matter of urgency.
Cooper stated, “If we can bring some players in, we are desperate to improve the squad. Matt and Anthony are in, but that is only really replacing Renan Lodi and the keepers from last season. We know that if we want to grow and improve in this league, we need to bring some players in. I really hope the club can do that now because it does not get any tougher than this league. We managed to survive last season by doing things in a certain way, but we need to evolve that. To do that, we need to add to the starting XI and to the squad. Fingers crossed that this can kick in; that it can happen because we need it.”
Forest is currently working on bringing Dean Henderson back to the club on loan from Manchester United, a deal that would likely include an obligation or option to buy. They also have a long-standing interest in PSV midfielder Ibrahim Sangare. Cooper emphasized the importance of improving the team and maintaining the positivity of the last two years.
Last season highlighted the need for a second quality goalkeeper after Henderson’s injury, which led to the temporary signing of Keylor Navas. Additionally, Forest requires further cover at left-back due to concerns over Omar Richards’ fitness and potential betting rule violations by Harry Toffolo. Another central defender would also be a valuable addition to the squad, even with Moussa Niakhate’s return from injury.
While Sangare would be an outstanding addition in midfield, Forest should consider adding more quality and depth in that area if they miss out on him. If there is interest in selling Brennan Johnson, the club would need to strengthen their attacking options, despite Elanga’s impressive early impact.
Nottingham Forest’s ambition to improve is evident, and Cooper is determined to get the best out of his players. He recognizes the challenges of competing in the Premier League and acknowledges the work that needs to be done to elevate the team’s performance.
In conclusion, Nottingham Forest’s head coach, Steve Cooper, believes that the club needs to make additional signings to continue growing and improving in the Premier League. While new arrivals like Anthony Elanga, Matt Turner, and Ola Aina have shown promise, Cooper emphasizes the importance of strengthening the squad further. The club is working on bringing back Dean Henderson on loan and has expressed interest in midfielder Ibrahim Sangare. Areas that require attention include goalkeeper, left-back, central defense, and midfield. Nottingham Forest’s ambition to improve remains strong as they aim to maintain the positivity of the past two years.