The new Premier League season is just days away, but Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo isn’t exactly brimming with confidence.
Instead of talking about momentum or optimism, he’s sounding the alarm over a lack of balance in his squad — even as the club prepares to splash over £90 million on new talent.
Nuno Sounds the Alarm
In a frank interview with Sky Sports, Nuno didn’t sugarcoat the situation.
“We are very far — very, very far — from where we should be,” he admitted.
The manager voiced concerns about everything from squad preparation to the lack of team bonding time.According to him, several players already know they’ll be leaving on loan, making it hard to build a united group.
With the Premier League kick-off just around the corner, he called the situation a “major problem.”
A Quiet Window Becomes a Spending Spree
Forest had been fairly low-key in the transfer market earlier in the summer.
That changed quickly. In recent weeks, they’ve made three significant signings:
-
Dan Ndoye from Bologna for £34 million
-
Brazilian duo Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha from Botafogo for a combined £27 million
These arrivals came after selling winger Anthony Elanga to Newcastle for £55 million earlier in the window.
The Big-Money Moves on the Table
Daily Mail Sport revealed that Forest have committed to more than £90 million in deals before the season starts. The list includes:
-
Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town) for £37.5 million — with Forest leading the race despite other interest
-
Arnaud Kalimuendo (Rennes) for £26 million — expected to undergo a medical on Friday
-
James McAtee (Manchester City) in a £30 million package, which breaks down to £22 million upfront plus £8 million in add-ons, with buy-back and sell-on clauses for City
Talks are also ongoing with Juventus for a loan move involving former Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz.
Opening Day at the City Ground
Forest kick off their Premier League campaign at home on Sunday against Brentford.
However, the pre-season form doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
The team went winless across seven friendlies, drawing five and losing two, and managed to score just one goal in the process.
For Nuno, the task is clear but daunting — moulding this expensive mix of new arrivals and unsettled players into a team ready to face the “most demanding competition in the world.”
