Nottinghamshire

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.

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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.

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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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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?

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BBC Radio Nottingham's Forest commentator Colin Fray previews the season and assesses the club's transfer activity, stressing the importance of squad depth following confirmation that Forest will compete in the Europa League.

"Forest have started this summer wanting to be a lot stronger in depth than last season, needing to be a lot stronger in depth than last season, but at the moment they are not," says Fray.

Fray also speaks to Forest's new winger, Dan Ndoye, and you can listen to the whole chat on Shut Up And Show More Football.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds