Nottingham Forest dipped their toe into the transfer market during the summer and picked up quality over quantity.
The business done represented a clear shift in strategy, with the average of the squad lowered and some useful additions added.
Forest have been criticised in the past for the approach to signing players but this time there is little for outsiders to critique.
Nuno Espirito Santo was involved in the recruitment process and he must be happy with the quality that he has in the way of depth this season.
Espirito Santo told Evangelos Marinakis not to overspend on a striker ahead of the transfer deadline and clearly, he’s happy with his options.
One signing that has really caught the eye is the addition made by Forest of Fiorentina captain Nikola Milenkovic who signed for £12 million.
He was in action this week as Serbia lost 3-0 to Spain but it’s his club football that has seen him showcase exactly what he’s capable of.
Nikola Milenkovic outperforms Virgil van Dijk and William Saliba
The Serbia captain has been a quality addition to the Forest ranks – and it appears that one particular stat is backing up his brilliance.
Milenkovic has played in all but one of Forest’s seven Premier League matches – missing the opening day against Bournemouth through suspension.
Now, a remarkable statistic has emerged regarding Milenkovic and in that particular respect, he’s outperforming both Virgil van Dijk and William Saliba.
According to The Other 14, Milenkovic is yet to be dribbled past during his six outings in the Premier League this season.
The Forest man is one of just six defenders yet to be dribbled past at all this season in the Premier League with Saliba and Van Dijk among a clutch to be breached once.
Milenkovic is the Premier League’s signing of the season
From a Forest perspective, this isn’t even open for discussion, with Milenkovic already showcasing himself as a class act.
The Reds have welcomed him into the starting eleven and he’s striking up a great partnership with Murillo on Trentside.
Forest didn’t really need a central defender per se but when Moussa Niakhate departed, the club decided to enter the market.
Milenkovic was a stalwart with Fiorentina and in the last two seasons, he’d helped the Serie A club reach back-to-back Europa Conference League finals.
Now, Forest have pulled off a £12 million coup and perhaps it’s about time that some outsiders give the Reds the credit their recruitment deserves.
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