Edu must sell “frightening” star when he arrives at Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espírito Santo has accomplished an impressive job through the opening ten video games of the Premier League marketing campaign, main his aspect to 3rd place earlier than this weekend’s motion.

Chris Wooden has performed an enormous half within the current success, registering eight goals in his ten appearances, with Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Haaland the one participant to attain greater than him at this stage.

The defence has additionally massively improved since final season, conceding just seven times, with new signing Nikola Milenkovic undoubtedly taking part in an enormous position within the lower of objectives conceded.

Such recruitment over the summer season has taken the Reds massively away from the drop zone already, with survival nonetheless the primary precedence regardless of the unimaginable first few months of the marketing campaign.

Proprietor Evangelos Marinakis seems to have strengthened the off-the-field workers on the Metropolis Floor, with the appointment of Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar – becoming a member of because the CEO of the Greek’s football empire, which additionally contains Olympiacos and Rio Ave.

It might depart the 46-year-old with some massive choices to make when he lastly will get his foot beneath the desk, with three calls needing to be made upon his arrival beneath Marinakis.

1

Ola Aina’s contract extension

After arriving on a free transfer from Italian aspect Torino final summer season, not many individuals knew what to anticipate from Ola Aina after his earlier stint in England’s high flight with Fulham again in 2020.

He solely agreed a one-year take care of many anticipating him to be a backup to the likes of Neco Williams and World Cup-winning loanee Gonzalo Montiel.

Nonetheless, the Nigerian rapidly cemented himself as a key participant beneath each Steve Cooper and Nuno, registering a total of 22 league appearances, however did wrestle with accidents throughout sure components of the season.

Aina scored his first purpose for Forest through the 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Metropolis Floor again in November 2023, along with his high-quality strike flying previous Emiliano Martínez and into the underside nook.

On account of his shows in 2023/24, the 28-year-old was handed a 12-month extension, a deal that takes him till the summer season of June 2025.

The previous Chelsea teenager has gone from energy to energy this marketing campaign, being a part of the second-best backline within the division – even scoring a screamer off his weaker foot within the victory over West Ham United.

His current type hasn’t gone unnoticed, with the likes of AC Milan and Roma reportedly eyeing a move for the full-back in January – doubtlessly in a position to agree a pre-contract ought to he fail to agree a brand new take care of the Reds.

The hierarchy can fend off any curiosity by handing Aina a brand new contract, one thing which he totally deserves after his current performances on the Metropolis Floor.

2

Anthony Elanga’s potential departure

Deadline day through the summer season switch window noticed Forest frantically strive for a brand new striker, with Omar Marmoush and Santiago Gimenez simply two video games who have been both strongly linked with a move to the East Midlands.

Nonetheless, it additionally noticed a flurry of bids positioned for key first-team members, together with Anthony Elanga, who was the subject of huge interest from fellow Premier League aspect Newcastle United.

Eddie Howe’s aspect tried to safe a transfer for the Swedish worldwide within the deal that noticed Elliot Anderson transfer to the Reds, however as an alternative, Odysseas Vlachodimos made the transfer to Tyneside.

Regardless of this, the Magpies made a £50m bid for Elanga on deadline day, a suggestion which the Reds’ hierarchy turned down – a shock resolution given the character of the bid.

The 22-year-old solely value the membership £15m from Manchester United 12 months prior, with the rejected bid seeing the membership make £35m revenue on the winger – an outstanding piece of enterprise given the current PSR drama.

It seems that the supply could have turned the teenager’s head, with Elanga failing to score in the current campaign and solely registering one help in his first ten league outings.

The “frightening” winger, as dubbed by journalist Laurie Whitwell, has additionally been overlooked of the Sweden national side for the upcoming Nations League matches in opposition to Slovakia and Azerbaijan- a sign as to how poor he’s been in current weeks.

Given his lack of type beneath Nuno, ought to the membership obtain a bid of an identical nature from Newcastle, they merely can not afford to show it down, handing Edu the funds to work his magic within the switch market upon his arrival.

In current days, Bayern Munich winger Mathys Tel has been touted with a potential move to hitch Nuno’s aspect, with Elanga’s potential price doubtlessly protecting any transfer for the Frenchman.

3

Andrew Omobamidele mortgage transfer

Centre-back Andrew Omobamidele joined Forest on deadline day again in January 2024, arriving in an £11m deal from Championship aspect Norwich Metropolis.

The Irishman arrived offering key depth to the defensive division as Nuno aimed to keep away from relegation simply a few months after taking up from fan-favourite Cooper.

Omobamidele would go on to make 14 appearances in all competitions through the second half of final season, scoring on his full debut within the FA Cup victory over Blackpool at Bloomfield Street.

Nonetheless, after the arrival of the aforementioned Milenkovic, the 22-year-old has discovered first-team minutes extraordinarily laborious to return by, featuring for a total of 90 minutes – failing to look for a single minute within the Premier League.

On account of his lack of minutes, the centre-back has been left out of the Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming worldwide break, changed by present Norwich defender Shane Duffy.

Omobamidele has by no means put a foot incorrect when that includes for Nuno, however finally, he’s develop into the sufferer of the membership’s speedy success, falling down the pecking order on account of the funding and type of different gamers.

He desperately wants a mortgage to both a bottom-half Premier League aspect or a promotion-chasing Championship aspect to provide him the precious minutes he wants if he’s to progress and attain the potential he arrived with.

Edu has the chance to facilitate such a transfer, doubtlessly enabling the Reds to succeed in the subsequent degree with their recruitment – serving to Nuno and the teaching workers maintain their spectacular begin in 2024/25.

Nonetheless, if the Brazilian is to make an important first impression within the East Midlands, he should look to implement all three aforementioned dilemmas permitting for all of the gamers to proceed their various phases of improvement.

Associated

Edu simply must offload Nottingham Forest dud who earns more than Murillo

Nottingham Forest’s big-money signing has been an enormous flop throughout his time on the Metropolis Floor.