--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-07-26T10:32:28.677Z last_updated: 2026-07-19T08:00:00+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/nottingham-forest/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubm90dGluZ2hhbXBvc3QuY29tL3Nwb3J0L2Zvb3RiYWxsL3RyYW5zZmVyLW5ld3Mvbm90dGluZ2hhbS1mb3Jlc3Qtb2xpdmVyLWdsYXNuZXItbm90dHMtMTEwNjU5ODU --- # Nottingham Forest handed transfer conundrum as Glasner influence already clear - **Source:** - **Published:** 19 Jul - **Club:** Nottingham Forest - **Original URL:** https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/transfer-news/nottingham-forest-oliver-glasner-notts-11065985 Barely a week into his tenure, Oliver Glasner has already made quite the impression. Yates suggested there is something of a “special feeling” about having the Austrian at the helm. Glasner has brought with him to the City Ground a track record of winning silverware. Replicating that success with the Reds is now the aim. JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Get all the Nottingham Forest latest via our Facebook page There will be plenty of hard work ahead if he is to achieve that goal, but the Glasner era got off to an encouraging start on Saturday. It was only a friendly, and Forest’s first run-out of the summer at that, but there was a lot to like as Notts County were beaten at Meadow Lane. Finding the back of the net was an issue for the Reds in pre-season 12 months ago. In the space of just 90 minutes this time around they have already erased that particular memory. Two goals, a clean-sheet and some positive play against the Magpies made for a good afternoon for the visitors. The Nottingham Post looks at some of the key talking points from Forest’s 2-0 win… A terrific pass from Morgan Gibbs-White to Igor Jesus and a delightful cross from Dilane Bakwa to set up Arnaud Kalimuendo showed what the Reds are capable of under Glasner. Both goals were examples of moves straight off the training ground. It has not taken long for the seeds of Glasner’s style to be sown. The 51-year-old reflected afterwards: “When you see the two goals we scored, it was more or less exactly what we had worked on in training this week.” Forest had the fingerprints of four different managers on them last term. With Glasner afforded the full summer to work with the group, he will have maximum time to get his ideas across. Although he insisted pre and post-match it is not a given the Reds will use his favoured back-three system, that is exactly the formation he went with. Two different XIs were deployed either side of the break but the formation was the same. Glasner put it down to the number of centre-backs and full-backs he currently has in the ranks. It would not be a surprise if this is his go-to set-up from now on, though. Forest put together some nice attacking moves in both halves and looked sharp considering it was their first outing of the summer. Reading too much into these games can be foolish but his team showed clear signs of what Glasner is trying to do. With Elliot Anderson gone, there is a hole to be filled in the centre of the pitch. The England international was outstanding last season and leaves a considerable void with his £116 million move to Manchester City. Free agent midfielder Xaver Schlager is in line to put pen to paper, reuniting him with Glasner after the pair worked together at Wolfsburg. Meanwhile, a second attempt to prise Lucas Bergvall from Tottenham Hotspur is expected after the Reds had a £38m offer rejected. In the meantime, James McAtee dropped into a deeper role to partner Yates in the first half on Saturday. The former had impressed Glasner in training - something he had also done with previous occupants of the managerial hot seat - and looked comfortable against the Magpies. Whether McAtee could be an option for that position in the Premier League is up for debate, but if he can build on this showing he can have a strong campaign regardless. Forest still have Ibrahim Sangare to come back into the mix - with the Ivory Coast international and New Zealand’s Chris Wood due to rejoin their teammates next week following their World Cup exploits - but there is no question midfield additions are needed. When Kalimuendo joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan in January, it was a transfer that drew a strong response from fans. Plenty could not understand why he was allowed out, especially as the Reds were struggling for goals. The attacker’s deal included a permanent option, and the German club have indicated they want to sign him - just for a lower fee than originally negotiated. Could he stay put at the City Ground, though? There is surely a case to be made for hanging on to him. Kalimuendo did well in the second half at Meadow Lane, including with his headed goal. Glasner was coy on the matter afterwards and didn’t give anything away. There was always a feeling the 24-year-old had something about him; perhaps he now has a manager capable of getting the best out of him at Forest. A new manager represents a clean slate, and several players in the Forest squad might well take advantage of that. After the chaos of 2025/26, stability and a clear vision of the path ahead can be just what the group needs. Whether the door opens for Kalimuendo remains to be seen, but there are also others who struggled last term and will hope to put a tough year firmly behind them. McAtee is another example. Likewise, Omari Hutchinson and Bakwa. The end product wasn’t quite there with Hutchinson on Saturday but he was bright and lively, Bakwa caught the eye with his assist for the second goal. Academy youngster Grady McDonnell deserves a special shoutout for his excellent 45 minutes; he looks a fine prospect. Indeed, plenty of players gave good accounts of themselves as they tried to catch the head coach’s eye. Glasner will be running the rule over the entire squad in the coming weeks and making up his own mind about what part each can play. This was just the first step on what Forest hope will be the path to success, but it was certainly a promising one. Delivered straight to your inbox, our regular email bulletins feature all the latest Forest news, views, gossip, opinion and transfer updates. Social Media: You can also get all the latest updates by following us on social media here Facebook and X WhatsApp: You can also get all your favourite content from the Nottingham Post's Forest team on WhatsApp. Click here to sign up for breaking updates about the biggest stories in and around the club. App: We also have a free app which you can download. It is always up-to-date with the latest Forest news. 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