Neco Williams (second right) celebrates scoring for Nottingham Forest against Brighton and Hove Albion with Taiwo Awoniyi, Jota Silva and Anthony Elanga
Neco Williams (second right) celebrates scoring for Nottingham Forest against Brighton and Hove Albion with Taiwo Awoniyi, Jota Silva and Anthony Elanga
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It might have been a quiet winter transfer window for Nottingham Forest but that did not stop the club getting some important business done.
For head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, the priority throughout January was to hang on to key players. The Reds did that, and they went even further by sorting new deals for a couple of them.
Nuno sets out clear Nottingham Forest transfer plan as deadline day looms
Striker Chris Wood and defender Murillo penning fresh terms was a huge positive for Forest to come out of the window with. Wood is in the form of his life but was due to become a free agent in the summer, while seeing Murillo commit his future to the club was a real statement of intent given he has no shortage of admirers.
The Reds will hope to also get Ola Aina’s situation sorted soon. An automatic year’s extension is set to be triggered on the full-back’s contract, which is due to expire in the summer. However, talks have taken place regarding a further extension for the Nigeria international. Reports have suggested Morgan Gibbs-White is in line for fresh terms, too.
Deadline day may only just have passed but attention will quickly turn to what will happen in the summer. Forest have a few players in addition to Aina whose deals are due to expire at the end of the campaign.
Last month, Wayne Hennessey penned a short-term deal until June. An offer of longer terms is unlikely but it would come as no surprise if a coaching role is found for the Welshman.
The Reds will have a call to make on Aston Villa loanee Alex Moreno. An option to make his switch a permanent one was included in the deal but the amount of game time the left-back gets between now and May will likely affect the club’s thinking.
Forest hold an option to secure centre-back Willy Boly for another year but he has been linked with a switch to Saudi Arabia in the summer. Harry Toffolo and Jonathan Panzo (currently on loan at Rio Ave) may well also depart as free agents when the time comes.
Beyond that, by the summer, three players will have just 12 months to run on their contracts. Neco Williams, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Omar Richards are all on deals running until 2026.
Of that trio, the biggest call will be over what happens with Richards. He has looked to put a nightmare couple of years with injury behind him during his loan at Rio Ave. Still, it remains to be seen whether he will have a part to play in Nuno’s plans.
Nottingham Forest: Special reports
To celebrate the success of Nottingham Forest this season, we are writing a series of features celebrating events at the City Ground.
From the finances to the former managers. Looking at how the City is benefitting from what Nuno’s team are doing on the pitch.
We take a deep dive into Evangelos Marinakis and his aspirations for the club – can the Reds match them?
