With the 2022/23 season over, Nottingham Forest’s focus now shifts to the summer transfer window.
The Reds will look to strengthen their squad as they aim to push on in the Premier League next term. And that will also mean departures from the City Ground as decisions are made about the future of some players.
The window officially opens for business on Wednesday, June 14, and will close at 11pm on Friday, September 1. Here’s what head coach Steve Cooper has had to say on transfer matters so far.
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On the potential number of signings…
"I think there will be more normal numbers,” the Welshman said before the final game against Crystal Palace. “There will be a natural process of assessment at the end of the season of where you think you're at and how you improve.
“This season has been completely unique; we've done something that's never been done before. We’ve done it and have allowed ourselves to stay in the Premier League and the opportunity to grow, and now it's a little bit different to last year and a bit more normal.
“But some of the key players for us this year were loans (in Keylor Navas, Dean Henderson and Renan Lodi) and in key positions, so there’s some obvious areas that will be part of the progression. But then there’s other little projects throughout the team, with players like Morgan (Gibbs-White), Brennan (Johnson), Neco (Williams) and Danilo, young players who have had regular Premier League games for the first time. We have to think about how we grow them next year and how they can keep improving.
“It is good going into the summer knowing you can plan. Of course you need to make some changes and you want to grow, but I also know I can think about a lot of the boys we've worked with this year who we are going to work with next year and how we see their progression and their programmes looking.
“We’ve also needed the experience in the squad. There have been times where I’ve thought, ‘I’m glad that guy’s here’, with what they’ve done before and the view they can have. I’m sure there’s a lot of that stuff gone on in the dressing room which we don’t see but which has proved to be really important.
“I love the fact we’ve got some young players who have really thrived in their first season playing regularly in the Prem. But I also know we’ve needed to call on some real experienced heads at times, not just in games, but in training, in preparation for games and in the aftermath of games. Particularly after poor results, some guys have really stepped up, and that’s really helped the togetherness grow.”
On Atletico Madrid loanee Lodi…
“We should just talk about what Renan has given us,” Cooper said after the draw at Selhurst Park. “Even today, he has played the first half with a groin strain and had to come off at half-time.
“Renan has gone through an emotional time with the birth of his son during the international break and only seeing him for a couple of days. It’s his story to tell, but I know he did let people know.
“For him to show the focus and the commitment he has, with not seeing his newborn… As a father myself, I would have found that incredibly tough. In fact, I don’t know if I could have done it.
“For him to do what he’s done, and give the club what he’s given, I’m just really proud to have worked with him. It just shows how much this club can get people to buy into it, because it’s so special.
“I’ve got a lot of admiration for Renan forever. But now is not the time to be talking about what may be next, now is the time to reflect on the game and the season.”
On assessing Forest players who have been on loan…
"The boys who have been back so far are some of the younger ones,” Cooper has said. “The likes of Riley (Harbottle), Swanny (Will Swan, whose move to Mansfield Town has already been announced) came back for a bit, Dale (Taylor), the 21s lads who went out on their first loans they have come back and have been training with us for a few weeks after the EFL finished.
"That will be part of the job, looking after everybody. There needs to be the right programme, the right plans and decisions made on everybody that belongs to the club.”
On whether Dean Henderson and Keylor Navas could return…
“We haven’t had those conversations with anybody,” Cooper said last week. “Up until the final whistle against Arsenal, it was about trying to stay in the Premier League.
“Now there is one more game to play, and we’re really determined to finish well. Let’s finish as well as we can, give everything we’ve got to that, see the players off and then we can start having some conversations about what’s next.”
On whether he envisages working with Henderson again…
“Hard to say,” the Reds boss has previously said. “I have enjoyed working with him, we have all enjoyed Dean and the personality he is.
“What supporters mainly see is when he has been in goal for us, but there is more to him than that. He is a real good professional, he really cares, he has a fantastic mentality of winning and wanting to be the best.
“We have really enjoyed working with him and we are grateful for what he has given us, and what he will continue to give us, because I’m sure he will still be around and quite visible. With Dean, he is on loan from Manchester United but he really bought into the football club and even the city, moving here and making it a permanent base for the loan. He showed he really wanted to be part of it, on and off the pitch. We have had great commitment from Dean, even when he hasn't been available in the last few months.”
What transfer business should Forest do this summer? Have your say in the comments below
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