Nottingham Forest will be quite busy during the summer transfer window as they get ready to play in Europe again the following season.
From Botafogo, Igor Jesus is scheduled to sign for Forest. Two more Brazilian players could join him; Jair Cunha, a central defender, and Cuiabano, a left-back, are also being considered.
Elsewhere, Danilo has been linked with Lyon, whilst Anthony Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White have both been touted with Newcastle and Manchester City, respectively.
Forest are yet to release their retained list just yet, with the club mulling over a few things, with a big summer anticipated ahead of the UEFA Conference League next season.
Harry Toffolo wanted by Rangers
The left-back is among those players who will be featured on the retained list, with Toffolo out of contract at the City Ground this summer following three years at the club.
Toffolo drew praise from Alan Shearer after a brilliant goal-line clearance against Tottenham, but his appearances over the past 12 months have been fleeting at the very best.
Now, according to The Sun on Sunday (Print Edition; page 59), Russell Martin is very keen to take Toffolo north of the border and make him one of his first signings as the new Rangers manager.
Toffolo is unlikely to be handed an extension to his contract at Forest. He has made 57 appearances since signing from Huddersfield in 2022 and has largely been considered a fan favourite since checking in.
Forest fans will wish Toffolo well
Although he’s rarely been considered as a first-team regular at Forest, he’s still proved a very popular player with the fans and behind the scenes in the dressing room.
With that in mind, Toffolo will be sent on his way with his best wishes, provided Forest don’t have a late change of heart and offer the 29-year-old a new contract on Trentside.
Rangers would be a very good club for him to join. He would get to sample European football at Ibrox, and he’d get to play in front of huge crowds each and every week.
Toffolo has been a model professional during his time at Forest. In another world, the club would be able to offer him an extension but with lots of work to do to bolster the squad, perhaps it’s in the best interests of everyone that he heads to pastures new for next season
Nottingham Forest are potentially looking at strengthening their rearguard during the summer transfer window.
The Reds finished in seventh place during the 2024/25 campaign, and as a result, the UEFA Conference League will be on the cards next season.
Forest haven’t been in European competition for 30 years, and qualification was largely secured based on vast improvement from the 2023/24 campaign defensively.
Nikola Milenkovic was a sensational signing, and his partnership with Murillo allowed the team to really kick on last season.
Now, it would appear that the club are keen to strengthen the defensive ranks further, with links to defenders seemingly rife.
Leeds now want Nottingham Forest target Jaka Bijol
Udinese are set to cash in on the Slovenia defender and now Leeds have presented terms to the centre-back, according to Football Italia.
Bijol is available for £18 million and Forest have also been monitoring the player, with the club looking for another bargain from Serie A after their masterclass with Milenkovic.
The report claims that both Premier League clubs might be fighting a losing battle, however, with AC Milan thought to be leading the race for his signature.
Bijol has been with Udinese since 2022 when he checked in from CSKA Moscow. During his time with the Italian outfit, he’s made 95 appearances and has also been capped 62 times by his country.
Forest would welcome defensive reinforcements
Morato has been the first-choice option from the bench recently, but he’s not been quite so consistent when starting games, which does provide a cause for some concern.
Furthermore, Willy Boly will depart at the end of his contract, whilst young academy prospect Zach Abbott is still young and relatively raw when it comes to first-team football.
With that in mind, some more cover for Milenkovic and Murillo wouldn’t go amiss, with the experience of Bijol likely to be ideal for Forest if a deal does come to fruition this summer.
With Milan hot on his heels, Forest might have to sit this one out. However, a new defender does look to be forthcoming this summer, and it would appear that some cover wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
