Nottingham Forest notebook - Gibbs-White promise, January transfer 'likely'

After a miserable return to his former stomping ground, Nottingham Forest head coach Oliver Glasner faces another tough challenge this weekend.

Last Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace made it back-to-back losses for the Reds as their bumpy start to the season continued. The fixtures do not get any easier as a visit from reigning Premier League champions Arsenal is next up.

Putting an end to their miserable City Ground form will be the aim for Glasner’s side. Ahead of Sunday’s clash, the Nottingham Post takes a look at the latest goings-on Trentside…

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Signing Morgan Gibbs-White in the summer of 2022, then hanging on to him when Tottenham Hotspur came calling three years later, are two of Forest’s most important pieces of transfer business since promotion. And now ex-Reds head coach Steve Cooper has revealed what he told the playmaker to convince him to put pen to paper at the City Ground in the first place.

Cooper and Gibbs-White already had a good relationship prior to being reunited on the banks of the Trent. The pair had worked together with England Under-17s and at Swansea City, and the Welshman made the No.10 a specific promise when he was targeted by Forest.

“We weren’t the only club in for him,” Cooper told Sky Sports. “He and his family put a lot of trust in me; he’s got a great mum and dad.

“I promised him he’d play. He was a fairly well-known player at Wolves but he hardly played a game; he hardly started a game and finished a game.

“He is a bit different as a No.10, in terms of the energy, the power and the profile he plays with. He got injured at Swansea, it wasn’t that I didn’t pick him, and then he got called back in the January, which I was gutted about. We got to the play-off final anyway but who knows, we might have gone one further (with him).

“I love seeing young players do well. I like giving them opportunities and I think you need young players in a successful team.”

Matz Sels has come in for a bit of flak from supporters amid Forest’s inconsistent start to the campaign. It doesn’t help matters that the Belgian has a lack of serious competition for the shirt - and the Reds might actually find themselves a goalkeeper down come January.

John Victor is back-up choice for Sels, with summer signing Steven Benda yet to even get on the bench. But reports from Brazil have suggested John is keen to be playing regularly, and he seems to have his sights set on securing a winter departure.

According to ESPN Brazil (via Sport Witness), Flamengo are eyeing up the 30-year-old and the player himself is “open” to leaving. A January move is said to be “likely”, with John “questioning” whether there would be any point in remaining with Forest beyond that.

Staying in Europe was identified as a preference for John when there was speculation about his future earlier in the year. However, a return to his Brazilian homeland is now viewed as a possibility as he tries to force his way back into the national set-up.

If the signs point to John heading back to his homeland, a former Red could soon be on his way back to the UK from Brazil. Fans’ favourite Danilo left the City Ground for Botafogo little more than 12 months ago but is now being talked about for a potential Premier League return.

It wouldn’t be to Forest, though. Instead, it is Palace who are being touted to firm up their long-standing interest in him.

Sport Witness have claimed Eagles scouts were in attendance at Botafogo’s 2-1 defeat to Vasco da Gama last week to watch Danilo in action. The 25-year-old played the full 90 minutes and followed that up by getting on the scoresheet in Monday’s 1-1 draw with Coritiba.

Palace are said to be eyeing up Danilo as a potential January target. Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United have previously been credited with an interest in him since his Forest exit.

Reds loanee Dilane Bakwa seems to be making the most of his time with Lille. The winger bagged his second goal for the French outfit on Saturday as his effort secured a 1-0 win over Le Havre.

Bakwa has struggled for game time in the Garibaldi since his switch from Strasbourg in 2025 but he is seeing plenty of minutes at present. So far, he has made six appearances in total and has started two league games.

Get French Football News rated the 24-year-old 6/10 at the weekend. They said: “The winger quickly opened the scoring with a perfect strike and could well have ended the first half with an assist to his name as well.”

Amid an injury to Ethan Mbappe, Lille coach Davide Ancelotti has challenged Bakwa to grasp his chance. He told L'Equipe: “Dilane has the opportunity to play more and I expect a lot from him. He has the experience and can be very decisive with his attacking play. He's also generous, he knows how to defend, and he brings balance to the team. Yes, I have high expectations.”

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