Kalimuendo, key signing, Bergvall - Nottingham Forest's transfer dilemmas

The start of the 2026/27 season is barely three weeks away, with Leeds United visiting the City Ground for the Reds’ Premier League opener on August 22. And beyond that, there is not long to go until the summer transfer window closes.

Plenty of work on and off the pitch has been done during Forest’s 12-day training camp in Portugal which will come to an end this evening (Friday). Oliver Glasner’s side will return to the UK to continue their preparations after tonight’s friendly against Sporting Lisbon (7.45pm kick-off).

The transfer graft will continue, too. Clubs have until 11pm on September 1 to get deals done, leaving little more than a month remaining to wrap up any ins and outs.

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It has been a relatively slow window Trentside so far, amid a focus on quality over quantity. Glasner said earlier this week he was “not anxious” to get signings sorted, insisting he remains “very confident in the board that we will get the right players”.

The Austrian believes the Reds have a good group already in place, it is about bringing in a few key additions to make them stronger. Nevertheless, the club still have a few big decisions to make…

Not so long ago, it seemed likely Arnaud Kalimuendo would be on his way out this summer. The attacker spent the second half of last term on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt and the Bundesliga side had an option to sign him permanently.

Although Frankfurt did not automatically take up that option, reports from Germany suggested they were still keen on Kalimuendo. Negotiating a lower fee was on their agenda.

Glasner has been taking a good look at the 24-year-old in pre-season. It is not certain that he will move on but he is viewed as someone who could play one of the two No.10 roles, rather than as a main striker - and Forest have a fair bit of competition in that department.

Addressing Kalimuendo’s situation, Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krösche told German newspaper Bild (via Sport Witness) this week: “We aren’t in talks with anyone at the moment. Kali is a Nottingham player; that’s the situation. There’s nothing more to say about it.”

The Reds want to strengthen their forward resources before the window closes. They are aware that to secure a top-half finish they will need a front man capable of chipping in with double-figures on the goal front.

Chris Wood managed it when Forest finished seventh under Nuno Espirito Santo, notching up a haul of 20. But there is a question mark over whether the New Zealand international can hit those heights again, given he is 34 and continuing to manage the knee injury that sidelined him for much of last season.

Forest have looked at the data and have analysed top scorers in the Premier League over recent years. There is a trend of tall and physical strikers being successful.

Finding someone with those qualities who is still sufficiently mobile and has a bit of pace is key. It will not be easy, and given goalscorers rarely come cheap the Reds will want to make sure they spend their money wisely.

As the Reds’ first signing of the summer, Xaver Schlager will bolster Glasner’s options in the centre of the pitch. Adding another midfielder remains the aim, though.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Bergvall is a top target. The Sweden international is understood to be attracted by a potential move to the City Ground and is said to have informed Spurs of his desire to leave this summer.

Forest failed with a £38 million bid for the 20-year-old. There has been talk of a price tag of up to £60 million having been placed on his head.

How much are the Reds prepared to spend? And how late in the window are they prepared to leave it to get this particular department sorted?

Forest want to hang on to their key players, as has been demonstrated by Ibrahim Sangare penning a new contract. But some trimming of the squad is on the cards.

Glasner coming in meant a fresh start for everyone. He has been running the rule over his charges since taking up post earlier this month.

Who has a part to play this coming season is the question to be resolved. The ex-Crystal Palace boss does not want players to be left kicking their heels with very little chance of game time.

It could be loans are seen as best for the development of youngsters like Zach Abbott and Tyler Bindon. Meanwhile, Morato and Nicolo Savona are two players to have been linked with moves away.

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