Nottingham Forest backed to complete ‘four new signings’
Nottingham Forest suffered a major blow to their Champions League ambitions on Sunday (11 May) after a late equaliser consigned them to a 2-2 draw against Leicester.
Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side sit just one point outside the top five ahead of their final two games against West Ham and Chelsea.
Forest will be virtually guaranteed Europa League football – at least – for the 2025-26 campaign if Man City win the FA Cup on Saturday (17 May).
European football will be a welcome boost for finances at the City Ground after Forest were deducted points for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) last season.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted he expects Evangelos Marinakis to back Forest this summer, even if they are forced to settle for Europa League football.
‘Marinakis will support Nuno’, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted Marinakis “will do whatever he can” to support Forest into Europe next season.
Morgan Gibbs-White, Murillo and Ola Aina are among the first-XI stars attracting interest from other clubs ahead of the summer window.
Wyness admitted one or two players may depart if Forest miss out on a top-five finish.
| Position | Team | Played | Points | GD |
| 3 | Newcastle United | 36 | 66 | 23 |
| 4 | Manchester City | 36 | 65 | 24 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 36 | 63 | 19 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 36 | 63 | 7 |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest | 36 | 62 | 12 |
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Europa League is not that bad, if that’s all it will be for Forest.
“Obviously it’s nowhere near the Champions League levels, with the new format.
“But I do think Marinakis will support Nuno. I don’t expect to see too many players leaving.
“There may be one or two maximum, but it won’t be many.
“I do expect three or four to come in, even in the Europa League. So overall, I expect a strengthening in the squad and I think Marinakis will do whatever he can.
“I think the best players at Forest will have enjoyed this season. They’re clearly happy in this group and happy to stay for next year.
“That’s how I see it, it’s a positive glass-half-full mentality for next season.”
Gibbs-White ‘flattered by Man City interest’
Meanwhile, Football Insider has revealed (10 May) that Nottingham Forest may be powerless to stop Morgan Gibbs-White’s “flattering” move to Man City this summer.
Football Insider sources have said the chance to play under Pep Guardiola appeals to Gibbs-White.
Forest will place a hefty price tag on Gibbs-White’s head in an attempt to deter interest and force City to look elsewhere in their pursuit of Kevin De Bruyne’s replacement.
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