Nottinghamshire

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Brentford ended only three places below Nottingham Forest last season but they face a difficult task at the City Ground on Sunday after losing key personnel over the summer.

The west London side will be without both of last season's joint top scorers for their opening game, with Bryan Mbeumo sold to Manchester United and Yoane Wissa not currently considered for selection amidst interest from Newcastle.

Former captain Christian Norgaard has also departed to Arsenal, while goalkeeper Mark Flekken has joined Bayer Leverkusen.

That would be a testing scenario for most experienced Premier League managers, but the Bees will have rookie Keith Andrews in charge. Thomas Frank's successful seven-year reign ended in June when he moved to Tottenham and the Dane could prove a tough act to follow.

This will be Andrews' first managerial role, though he does have experience working as an assistant and served as the Bees' set-piece coach last season.

Perhaps surprisingly, the 44-year-old will become only the seventh permanent Premier League manager from the Republic of Ireland, as classified by Opta, and the first since Chris Hughton left Brighton in 2019.

Last season's seventh-place finish earned Forest European qualification for the first time in 30 years, while their tally of 19 Premier League wins was one more than their combined tally in the previous two years.

The end of the campaign was tinged by disappointment, with defeat by Chelsea on the final day ending hopes of Champions League qualification, but there is nonetheless plenty of reason for optimism going into their first game.

Forest are the beneficiaries of Crystal Palace's demotion to the Conference League for breaching multi-club ownership rules. As a result they have been elevated to the Europa League and won't face a two-legged qualifying play-off later this month.

The Reds have also been buoyed by the decision of captain Morgan Gibbs-White to sign a new three-year contract, despite appearing on the verge of joining Tottenham only a few days earlier.

They have lost winger Anthony Elanga to Newcastle but Switzerland international Dan Ndoye has arrived from Bologna as a replacement, while Jair Cunha and Igor Jesus have been recruited from Brazil.

The club have also agreed fees for Ipswich winger Omari Hutchinson and Manchester City midfielder James McAtee, both of whom impressed as England won this summer's European Under-21 Championship.

Forest used just 23 players in last season's Premier League, fewer than any other side, but need increased squad depth to cope with European football.

Image source, Getty Images

We have looked into the age profile of Nottingham Forest's players for the 2025-26 season and recorded what percentage of minutes each of them played last campaign.

For the purpose of this exercise, we have deemed those under 24 as youth, between 24 and 30 as in their peak years and anyone over 30 to be a veteran.

The green represents new signings, who naturally did not play, red are those that have since left the club and yellow are all those that remain.

While there's a veteran skew to Nuno Espirito Santo's group, the most obvious takeaway compared to other clubs is how kind injuries were last season. So many of the squad played over 50% of league minutes - a stark contrast to clubs like Tottenham.

Fans will hope lightning strikes twice and that new faces such as Dan Ndoye (pictured) can be as robust. One wonders, with European football on the agenda, if Forest can bank on their key names being as available every week in the league this term.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's TV and radio commentators pick two Nottingham Forest players who will be worth watching out for in the next few months.

Dan Ndoye

Age: 24 Position: Forward or winger Country: Switzerland

Steve Bower: Dan Ndoye is new to the Premier League and could be another shrewd piece of business from Nottingham Forest.

He first came to my attention in the Europa Conference League for Basel and subsequently in the Champions League with Bologna.

I've also covered a fair bit of Switzerland for BBC Sport at the last two major tournaments and he has steadily grown into a crucial player for his country.

After the departure of Anthony Elanga, Ndoye looks an exciting replacement for Forest fans. At 24, he has good experience and looks ready for the Premier League.

Jair Cunha

Age: 20 Position: Centre-back Country: Brazil

Conor McNamara: Jair Cunha was a player that I saw in action this summer at the Club World Cup. He's 6ft 6in but is strong as well as tall - he is huge for a 20-year-old.

Cunha used his height to score a header for Botafago against Seattle Sounders, but it was his defensive calmness that caught the eye that day, even more than the goal he scored. He's very comfortable taking the ball down and controlling it in tight spaces where others would just boot it clear.

Logic tells us that he should be raw, because he has played so little senior football in his short career - only 46 games so far - but this guy has a real presence about him. He was a key player in the Brazil team that won the Under-20 South American Championship this year.

Read the full piece here

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

As Nuno Espirito Santo spoke about "dealing with doubts" just two days before the start of a season that sees Forest back in Europe for the first time in 30 years, it quickly became apparent how unhappy he is.

Nuno picks his words carefully and this time he was eager to get his message across loud and clear.

Like all managers, when he has something to say, he will say it and before Forest's opener against Brentford on Sunday, he voiced his concerns.

He spoke about how the club have lost an opportunity to build on last season and how even the players are worried at the lack of new arrivals. It was the speed of the process he was most upset with, feeling the club could have moved more quickly.

Nuno is regarded as being guarded during press conferences and, for the Portuguese, it was explosive.

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He trusts his squad but he feels the squad lacks the required depth and quality to compete on four fronts - with their Europa League campaign on the horizon - and this was as animated as he has ever been.

The club could spend close to £100m on Omari Hutchinson, James McAtee and Arnaud Kalimuendo in the next few days - and there is interest in Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz - but it still has not appeased Nuno.

There is an acceptance the Under-21 European Championship - which Hutchinson and McAtee won with England - and the Club World Cup has delayed many deals. Nuno accepts other clubs will have similar issues, yet his concern is Forest.

He underlined how important it is to bring players in as early as possible and it is impossible to escape how this could be the first public fracture, especially after such a successful season.

This all comes just five weeks after Edu was officially appointed as the club's global sporting director.

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Brentford at the City Ground (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• When asked what success looks like this season, he replied: "I cannot project the success or the main objective of this season right now because we don't know who's going to be here, when they're going to be here and how long it's going to take them to adapt."

• He currently feels "concerned" about the season-opener on Sunday due to feeling "short of options to find solutions that the game might need", but he isn't blaming the club and rather believes it is down to the "very expensive" transfer market.

• Nuno added: "One thing I always like and prioritise as a coach is getting the squad ready as soon as possible. This way, we have the chance to create bonds and complexities that we can try over and over again. We haven't had the chance to do that."

• The players understand his current concerns, but "they are still motivated and the confidence is there to fight" against Keith Andrews' side.

• He added that the supporters will understand his current concerns: "We are fortunate enough that the supporters nowadays know a lot about what's going on. They only have to look at the squad and in their minds they are thinking: 'we might need other options.' The fans know, but I ask for their unconditional support. I know they are going to be noisy, they will help us and I promise we will fight."

• Brentford will pose a "tough test" after changing their manager and their vision this summer. Nuno believes that, despite their best striker being sold and their other striker being unavailable, they "still have options" and are "a strong team with very good players".

• When asked how they will tackle their first Premier League game amid his "major concerns", he replied: "I've already told the players that this is what we have for now so we need to get together to be stronger. We have to make an extra effort, so even if you're not playing in your position you're still helping the team. Those that are here are focused and ready to compete."

• He confirmed the rumours that the club are in discussions to sign four more players, stating: "I think things are moving, with medicals and other details, so let's see. We need players."

• However, he added: "They for sure won't be available for Sunday but, after that, these potential signings will make us better and stronger."

• When asked about Callum Hudson-Odoi potentially signing a new contract at the club, he said it is "a priority to try to settle down" the Reds' key players with the view of "maintaining the core of the squad".

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It would be futile to start second-guessing Nottingham Forest's season.

This time last year - going into a campaign in which they were tipped for relegation - Forest officials agreed a season of anonymity and a mid-table finish would have been progress.

They ended up qualifying for Europe for the first time in 30 years, meaning predictions for this year at the City Ground would be useless.

The Morgan Gibbs-White summer saga after Tottenham Hotspur's approach and Forest's subsequent legal considerations - which ended with the midfielder staying at the City Ground - shows the club are not here to be pushed around.

They want to be among the elite and losing their best player to a rival for Europe - Tottenham would be expected to improve on last season's 17th - is not the way to remain there.

Of course, Anthony Elanga did leave for Newcastle United - with Dan Ndoye joining from Bologna as a replacement - but fears Forest would be stripped of all their best talent have been unfounded.

Instead, they go into the season with more optimism than some may have expected, despite running out of steam in the final seven games, which eventually denied them a Champions League spot.

Burnout could have been a factor, and Forest used 23 players last season, a league low, and with a Europa League campaign to consider more rotation is needed, while Igor Jesus, a £10m signing from Botafogo, will hopefully ease the goalscoring burden off Chris Wood.

Elliot Anderson also excelled in the summer as the England Under-21s won the European Championship and will be expected to continue his form into this season.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Nottingham Forest moving for Ipswich Town's Omari Hutchinson and Manchester City's James McAtee.

Here are some of your comments:

Drew: I'll be breathing a sigh of relief if we manage to get these deals done. With Elanga gone, we desperately need another dynamic attacking-minded winger and Hutchinson fits the bill perfectly. McAtee is also an excellent young talent with an eye for goal. Suddenly the season doesn't look like a write-off anymore!

Jon: You've got to be happy with us buying young English attackers, but we won't know whether the prices are fair for a few months. Our transfer window is developing nicely, but we still need to do a bit more offloading and bring in a couple of full-backs. The squad is definitely looking stronger than in May.

Chris: McAtee is incredible business, but Hutchinson is far too expensive!

Tom: Seller's premium for Hutchinson at least, but if they come on as they should then both will be worth much more. Astute business from Forest. I feel they will fit the team well. They are the core of the England Under-21s too.

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Lumby: I'm delighted. They aren't full raw-talent gambles and they fit in with Nuno's narrative perfectly. He said that he wants to work more on having possession and these two players will fit in with that intention. They are also welcome and trusted players that we desperately need as we approach European commitments.

Tim: Good business. Both are proven talents who will one day be full England internationals. My only gripes are the clauses in McAtee's contract. If City won't play him then sell him for a fair fee, but putting on buy-back and sell-on clauses too? This market needs regulating.

John: The McAtee fee seems like a bargain compared to the Hutchinson fee.

Image source, Getty Images

New Nottingham Forest winger Dan Ndoye says he is adapting to Nottingham life and is excited to make his Premier League debut at the City Ground after having heard great things about the stadium from other players.

The Swiss international's arrival for £35m puts him level with Elliott Anderson as Forest's most expensive signing ever and is in line to face Brentford on Sunday.

"In the first few days, it took me some time to adapt to my new life," Ndoye said on BBC's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast. "But I tried to meet some of the team and the people and it was good.

"It is really good to have the opportunity to play with the team and know each other well.

"Really excited and a lot of players already spoke to me about the City Ground and how it is in full capacity during the Premier League games. I am really excited to meet the fans in the stadium and to start with really important games.

"Since I heard of Forest's interest at the beginning of July, I was already interested myself. When I spoke with the staff and the coach and I felt the project, it was the right choice for me."

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Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest are making their move in the transfer window, agreeing deals worth £37.5m for Ipswich Town winger Omari Hutchinson and nearly £30m for Manchester City's James McAtee.

Midfielder McAtee has been a long-term target for Forest while a bid was rejected for Hutchinson earlier in the summer.

Having sold Anthony Elanga to Newcastle, the Reds have been after attacking reinforcements, so how do these two fit in?

Are you happy with the arrival of more young English talent?

Or have Forest been overcharged?

Get in touch here