Nottingham Forest predictions 2024/25: Premier League finish, top goalscorer and season preview

  • Nottingham Forest have battled for survival since returning to Premier League
  • Forest parted ways with Steve Cooper midway through last season and appointed Nuno Espirito Santo
  • Club completed summer business early in the window
Can Forest climb the table in 2024/25?
Can Forest climb the table in 2024/25? / Zac Alalouff / 90min
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Nuno Espirito Santo is preparing to oversee his first full season at the helm of Nottingham Forest having guided the club to safety last season.

It's been a hectic two years for Forest since returning to the Premier League but they have remained afloat - just. Uncharacteristic shrewdness early in the summer transfer window saw financial concerns dissipate and Santo has been able to work with his 2024/25 squad for much of the pre-season.

There's reason for optimism at the City Ground, but is Santo the right coach to guide Forest up the table?

Here's 90min's season preview of Nottingham Forest's 2024/25 campaign.


Nottingham Forest's performance in the last five seasons

Forest have Steve Cooper to thank for their rise back into the Premier League. The club was heading in the wrong direction under Chris Hughton, but the former Swansea boss proved to be the perfect appointment.

The Midlands club returned to the top flight via the play-offs in 2021/22, with Cooper doing an excellent job to keep Forest in the Premier League amid a wild squad overhaul. A parting of ways came naturally midway through last season, with Santo completing the task which greeted him upon his arrival.


Season

Premier League

FA Cup

EFL Cup

2023/24

17th

R5

R2

2022/23

16th

R3

SF

2021/22

4th (Championship, promoted via play-offs)

QF

R2

2020/21

17th (Championship)

R4

R1

2019/20

7th (Championship)

R3

R3


Nottingham Forest 2024/25 squad numbers

Elliott Anderson
Anderson will wear the eight shirt at the City Ground / Stu Forster/GettyImages

Maverick centre-half Murillo has impressed since joining the club and will now don the five shirt for the 2024/25 season, indicating his importance to Santo's side.

Summer arrival Elliott Anderson will wear the number eight, with fellow newbie Nikola Milenkovic taking 31. Purists will remain disgusted at full-back Neco Williams continuing with number seven.


Number

Player

1

Matt Turner

4

Joe Worrall

5

Murillo

6

Ibrahim Sangare

7

Neco Williams

8

Elliott Anderson

9

Taiwo Awoniyi

10

Morgan Gibbs-White

11

Chris Wood

12

Andrew Omobamidele

14

Callum Hudson-Odoi

15

Harry Toffolo

16

Nicolas Dominguez

17

Eric da Silva Moreira

20

Joao Pedro Ferreira da Silva

21

Anthony Elanga

22

Ryan Yates

25

Emmanuel Dennis

26

Matz Sels

27

Omar Richards

28

Danilo

30

Willy Boly

31

Nikola Milenkovic

33

Carlos Miguel

34

Ola Aina

35

Ui-Jo Hwang

38

Josh Bowler

44

Zach Abbott

*Numbers subject to change before end of transfer window


Nottingham Forest summer transfers

In

Forest have done an excellent job of recuperating big fees for the likes of Orel Mangala and Moussa Niakhate, but their need to balance the books means they haven't gone crazy in terms of incomings. Elliott Anderson has signed from Newcastle for £35m, while Nikola Milenkovic should slot right into the heart of Santo's backline.


Player

Joined From

Fee

Elliot Anderson

Newcastle

£35m

Nikola Milenkovic

Fiorentina

£12m

Jota Silva

Vitoria Guimaraes

£5.9m

Marko Stamenic

Red Star Belgrade

£4.6m

Eric da Silva Moreira

St Pauli II

£1.3m

Carlos Miguel

Corinthians

Undisclosed


Out

There's been a major turnaround at the City Ground this summer, with 15 players departing and several returning to their parent clubs following loans last season. Centre-back Felipe has hung up his boots.


Player

Club Joined

Fee

Moussa Niakhate

Lyon

£27m

Orel Mangala

Lyon

£20m

Odysseas Vlachodimos

Newcastle

£20m

Remo Freuler

Bologna

£3.4m

Brandon Aguilera

Rio Ave

Undisclosed

Julian Larsson

Burton Albion

Undisclosed

Marko Stamenic

Olympiacos

Loan deal

Jonathan Panzo

Rio Ave

Loan deal

Lewis O'Brien

LAFC

Loan deal

Chiekhou Kouyate

Released

Free transfer

Wayne Hennessey

Released

Free transfer

Harry Arter

Released

Free transfer

Scott McKenna

Las Palmas

Free transfer

Loïc Mbe Soh

Released

Free transfer

Nuno Tavares

Arsenal

End of loan

Gonzalo Montiel

Sevilla

End of loan

Rodrigo Ribeiro

Sporting CP

End of loan

Divock Origi

AC Milan

End of loan

Giovanni Reyna

Borussia Dortmund

End of loan

Felipe

Retired

N/A


Nottingham Forest 2024/25 kits

Home kit

Danilo
Danilo in Forest's familiar-looking home shirt / James Baylis - AMA/GettyImages

Away kit

Olympiacos v Nottingham Forest - Pre-Season Friendly
Garish or glorious? / Milos Bicanski/GettyImages

Nottingham Forest predicted top goalscorer

Taiwo Awoniyi
Forest need Taiwo Awoniyi to stay injury-free / Nathan Stirk/GettyImages

Veteran forward Chris Wood came up with the goods for Forest last season, scoring 15 times in all competitions. Wood proved more than serviceable, but he should only play a bit-part role in 2024/25 if Taiwo Awoniyi can stay fit.

The Nigeria international is the definition of a 'handful'. An exceptional outlet who runs the channels doggedly, Awoniyi will thrive in Santo's counter-attacking set-up. The striker made just 23 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring six times, and needs to stay injury-free.

Knocks also limited him in year one as he made just 17 Premier League starts, but the brutish forward notched ten goals in an impressive debut campaign. A fit and firing Awoniyi is a difference-maker.


Nottingham Forest predicted Premier League finish

Forest have had a far less frantic summer compared to years past and there's some quiet optimism building around the City Ground for 2024/25.

However, 90min isn't buying it. Santo does have the players at his disposal for his counter-attacking ideals to manifest efficiently, but he'll need Awoniyi to avoid the treatment table if he's to guide Forest up the table. They lack defensive depth and there are question marks over the goalkeeper situation.

The club has brought shrewdly and there may be scope for a considerably improved season, but another fight against the drop is more likely. Fortunately, they're superior to the three teams that have come up by quite some distance.

Nottingham Forest 2024/25 Premier League prediction - 17th


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