Nuno Espírito Santo puts Edu on notice with five-position Nottingham Forest shopping list

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Nottingham Forest are set to confirm three exciting new signings, but judging by what Nuno Espírito Santo has said, they won’t be the last through the door.

On Thursday evening, Forest agreed a deal to sign James McAtee, but weren’t done there as two more quality additions were to swiftly follow.

Forest agreed to sign Arnaud Kalimuendo from Rennes to bolster the striking department, while Omari Hutchinson is due for a medical at Forest following a £37m agreement with Ipswich Town.

However, in his pre-match press conference ahead of Forest’s season opener against Brentford, Espírito Santo made it very clear why the three additions simply won’t be enough.

Nuno Espírito Santo makes Nottingham Forest transfer demand

Nuno has shared his concerns about the Forest squad already, detailing how the lack of incomings has led to a particularly difficult pre-season that may seep into the Premier League campaign.

Even with McAtee, Hutchinson and Kalimuendo imminent, the Forest manager has detailed exactly what he needs from his recruitment team before the new season.

He said: “I think we need another option for the goalkeeper situation. On the defensive line, [we need] fullbacks. I think we’re OK on the centre halves. Midfield, we still need. Nico [Dominguez] is injured, I think in two, three months he’ll be back.

“On the wings as well, Callum and Dan are our only options.”

The additions of Hutchinson and even McAtee will help with the wide options, but elsewhere, Nuno has pointed out issues that have been apparent since the end of last season.

Nuno Espírito Santo is right to push for urgent signings

At the end of the 24/25 campaign, Forest’s form slumped and the dream of Champions League football was lost, with the month of April a key factor and one that Nuno had to face without one of his most important players.

Ola Aina went off injured against Manchester United on the 1st of April and didn’t return until the start of May, leading to Forest putting together a makeshift defence without a natural replacement.

Six dropped points and a defeat in the FA Cup semi-final would follow, highlighting the significant drop off at full-back when Aina or Neco Williams are unavailable, an issue that remains unsolved as the transfer window enters its closing chapter.