How Nottingham Forest's monster new £219m starting line-up could look - if late window deals are completed

It’s been a summer of controversial victories for Nottingham Forest but as they prepare to embark on their most anticipated season for decades, the squad looks well-placed to battle for silverware in domestic football and the Europa League.

Arguably the most important business done by the Midlanders has been persuading the core of last season’s side to stay put on the banks of the Trent, with Murillo, Milenkovic and most notably Gibbs-White the subject of ultimately unsuccessful interest from European superpowers as Anthony Elanga is the only headline departure from the City Ground.

Meanwhile the Tricky Trees’ participation in the Europa League stems from them writing to UEFA bringing to attention the possibility that Crystal Palace fell foul of multi-club ownership rules, meaning the two fixtures between the sides this season are sure to be spicy.

Fighting on four fronts means Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad will be stretched further than ever even accounting for their run to the FA Cup semi-finals last year, and they remain active in the transfer market looking to particularly bolster the depth behind this best starting side...

Nottingham Forest’s predicted goalkeeper and defence for 2025/26

Matz Sels (£5.1m), Ola Aina (free), Murillo (£15m), Milenkovic (£12m), Neco Williams (£16m)

The section of the side yet to see much change is the defence, and with good reason - Santo’s well-drilled side had the joint-sixth-best defensive record in the Premier League last season, ahead of Newcastle, Aston Villa and Brighton not to mention relegation candidates like Manchester United and Tottenham.

The one possible change is Liverpool left-back Konstantinos Tsimikas, who Forest are interested in signing if the price is right. However, having just changed shirt numbers to carry the ‘3’ for the coming campaign, Neco Williams deserves to be trusted with a starting berth off the bat.

Beyond that battle it’s very much as you were as of May. Matz Sels turned 33 in February but the reigning joint-Premier League Golden Glove winner has recently rewarded with a new contract, and stands behind a centre-back partnership that was among the best in the division last campaign.

Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic, along with right-back Ola Aina, were defensive dynamite in 2024/25 and if they can stay fit, should provide another set of rock-solid foundations in the coming year.

How Forest’s midfield could look after Deadline Day

Dan Ndoye (£34m), Douglas Luiz (£34.6m), Elliot Anderson (£35m), Morgan Gibbs-White (£42m)

Nottingham Forest have been linked with a host of midfielders following the departures of Danilo and Lewis O’Brien, and Douglas Luiz is the name to watch. The former Aston Villa star now plies his trade at Juventus but looks set to leave Italy for up to €40m (£34.6m) and would be a phenomenal partner for the sensational Elliot Anderson.

The versatile Dan Ndoye scored nine goals for Bologna last season, created six more and will be expected to pick up where Elanga left off as an industrious presence on the right wing as Forest’s most expensive signing of the window, with Gibbs-White lining up on the other side of the pitch.

While nominally a left-midfielder in this formation, expect Gibbs-White to effectively enjoy a free role behind the striker, getting on the ball as much as possible and influencing the game in the same manner that was so effective (and caught Tottenham’s attention) last season with Williams able to provide the width on that flank.

Forest are also linked with Manchester City’s James McAtee, who would be the primary back-up to Gibbs-White whilst remaining capable of filling in anywhere across the midfield four as one of the primary rotation options for Santo.

However, the 22-year-old, who captained Lee Carsely’s Young Lions to European glory this summer, isn’t yet the finished article and is highly unlikely to depose Gibbs-White at least at the start of the season while Soungoutou Magassa would be another helpful depth piece.

Nottingham Forest’s potent potential attack

Igor Jesus (£10m), Chris Wood (£15m)

Nottingham Forest will hope that the long and profitable partnership between wood and jesus, the world’s most famous carpenter, can continue next season with the pair set to lead the line for the Tricky Trees in a less-spotted strike partnership.

Having developed in the UAE, Jesus returned to Brazil last year and though he wasn’t prolific in the league, he’s been on fire in knockout competitions posting a hit rate of seven goals in 15 games across the Club World Cup and Copa Libertadores since the second coming.

That included the only goal of the game as South American champions Botafogo incredibly upset Champions League winners PSG with Jesus a threat throughout the game, and Forest will hope he add consistency to his game next.

Meanwhile Chris Wood turns 34 this year and starts the season continuing as Nottingham Forest’s talisman though it remains to be seen whether he can rediscover last season’s rampant form in front of goal - he’s only netted twice competitively since the end of February.

If his shooting boots remain out of reach, any of Ndoye, McAtee or even Gibbs-White could fill in up front instead.