Nottingham Forest could be in for a historic summer transfer window, with the calibre of players on their radar rising due to Champions League football.
It’s no secret that Matheus Cunha is Forest’s dream signing for next season, with the Brazilian seen as the ideal alternative to Chris Wood in Nuno Espirito Santo’s front line.
Forest showed interest in Cunha in January but a deal couldn’t be agreed. However, with the ever-growing likelihood of Champions League football next season, these are the sort of deals that might be worth revisiting for Evangelos Marinakis.
The supporting act looks settled as Forest want to offer Anthony Elanga a new deal but that superstar forward is still a high priority, a position that Michael Dawson wants to see the Reds be ambitious with.
Michael Dawson backs Nottingham Forest in Viktor Gyokeres chase
In March, the incredible story broke that Forest had made contact with Viktor Gyokeres over a potential summer deal, but it’s common knowledge that the Reds will have to fend off stiff competition to bring the Swede to the City Ground.
However, former Red Dawson believes that Espirito Santo has a chance of tempting the 43-goal superstar.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Dawson said: “If they get Champions League, I guarantee they’ll go again. I look at the players they’ll probably look at, I believe they’ll be in the bracket of Gyokeres.
People are talking about, could he go to Arsenal, Nottingham Forest will be in that bracket and they will spend the money. […] This owner, he will go out and do everything […], I’ve seen it hands-on, he wants success and he’s bringing it, he won’t stop.”
Trusting Marinakis’ ambition is spot on from Dawson as the Forest owner has shown nothing but a desire to see his side reach the very top of the football pyramid, but he will have to be wise with his choice up front.
How Viktor Gyokeres and Matheus Cunha compare as strikers
After Dawson had expressed his feelings on Marinakis’ ambition, Paul Merson rightfully stated that Forest would need to select the right striker to suit Espirito Santo’s style of play, so a close match to Chris Wood’s strengths would be ideal.
| Statistic | Chris Wood | Viktor Gyokeres | Matheus Cunha |
| Shots on target per 90 | 1.22 | 2.48 | 1.47 |
| Aerial duels won per 90 | 2.97 | 1.20 | 0.42 |
| Pass accuracy | 66.8% | 73.8% | 77.7% |
| Dispossessed per 90 | 0.80 | 1.74 | 1.76 |
Gyokeres obviously has the edge in goals this season over the other two, which is also seen in his shots on target per 90, a stat that Cunha also beats Wood out on.
Something that the New Zealand international excels in, though, is efficiency in all aspects of the game, winning his aerial duels and being dispossessed very few times per game.
Truthfully, neither Gyokeres or Cunha can match Wood in these areas but the Swede’s 6’2” frame gives him a much better chance of performing this role as a physical presence, which may make him the smart choice if a close Wood alternative is what the Forest manager wants.
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