Nottingham

As transfer deadline day looms, what do Nottingham Forest need to do before it's too late? Or are you happy with where things are up to?

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The draw for the third round of the Carabao Cup will take place on Wednesday at the conclusion of the second-round tie between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United.

The seven English clubs involved in European competitions this season, including holders Liverpool, will enter at the third-round stage.

Ties will take place on weeks commencing 16 and 23 September.

Because there are rounds of Champions League and Europa League fixtures also scheduled for those two midweeks, the six clubs involved in those competitions - Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester United - will be kept apart to ensure they can fulfil their Carabao Cup tie in the alternate midweek to their European fixture.

Those six clubs will take part in a pre-draw before Forest v Newcastle to decide if they will be at home or away in the third round, with a main draw determining the 16 ties later in the evening.

Should Chelsea progress to the next phase of the Conference League, they will not be in action in that competition again until the start of October.

Nottingham Forest are looking at 22-year-old Ajax and Netherlands forward Brian Brobbey as a potential signing before the transfer window closes. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

The eye-catching statistic from Nottingham Forest’s first two games of the Premier League season was the number of shots on target. Eight. In both games.

Admittedly, those 16 shots only resulted in two goals. But those two goals have meant four points — 10% of the way to Premier League safety. And with an average of 3.89 shots on target last season, an increase in creating chances is obviously the first step to converting chances.

That said, Forest were the only side to outshoot Manchester City in 2023-24 — just the second team to do so home and away against a Pep Guardiola side since Real Madrid in 2009-10. So there is a gradual evolution in the Reds’ tactics.

This season the shift has seen Nuno Espirito Santo’s side pressing higher up the pitch — in a 4-2-4 formation out of possession, which is increasingly common in the Premier League — rather than dropping into a low block.

Winning the ball further up the pitch obviously contributes to a higher number of chances. And the tactic nullified Southampton’s superior possession, to the effect that it counted for nothing; just the one shot on target for the Saints.

Impressive debut starts for both Nikola Milenkovic and Elliot Anderson, followed by a cameo from Jota Silva — with Ramon Sosa still to come and, hopefully, one of Eddie Nketiah or Santiago Gimenez — means there is much to be hopeful for.

Whether the Reds can keep up eight shots on target a game remains to be seen, but a better return on converting chances should mean more goals to come.

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Nottingham Forest's £29m move for 23-year-old Feyenoord and Mexico striker Santiago Gimenez has collapsed after he rejected their offer. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Nottingham Forest are planning a move for England midfielder James Ward-Prowse, 29, who is not in the plans of new West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column