
'Expect more big moves in readiness for Europe'
Here's my quick assessment of Nottingham Forest's Premier League season - and a return to my August predictions.Pre-season prediction: 16thEnded the season: 7thThe fact there was even the mere talk of disappointment at missing out on the Champions League illustrates what a superb season Nottingham Forest have had under Nuno Espirito Santo.Yes, a strong position was wasted, but if you had offered any Forest fan solid safety at the start of the season, let alone European football, they would have signed up instantly.Striker Chris Wood had the season of his life, while the coveted Morgan Gibbs-White was outstanding. Goalkeeper Matz Sels was top class, and defensive duo Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic provided the bedrock.Owner Evangelos Marinakis never hides his ambition, so expect more big moves in readiness for Europe.What I said in August: "If Forest keep this squad together (and they are always looking to add), then I see them staying up."Read my assessments of the other 19 teams here
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BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
New investment in Argyle has fallen through
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Daily Mirror
41 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
John Heitinga leaves Liverpool for Ajax job as Reds eye new assistant boss
John Heitinga has worked under Arne Slot for the last year at Liverpool and was an important part of the coaching staff as the team won the Premier League title - but now he has been poached by boyhood club Ajax Liverpool assistant coach John Heitinga has left Anfield to become Ajax's new boss, after just one season working under Arne Slot. The former Everton defender was a key part of Slot's staff that helped the coach win the Premier League in his first season and is highly rated as a coach. He has previously been linked to other coaching roles and was a target for West Brom after the exit of Carlos Corberan in December, before the Baggies opted to hire Tony Mowbray - who was sacked after just three months. Now Heitinga has now landed a much more high profile job with his boyhood club Ajax, who were looking for a new coach after Francesco Farioli decided to leave his post following just one season in charge. Heitinga started his coaching career with Ajax's youth teams in 2021 before a short spell as interim manager of the first team in 2023. He later developed his skills as assistant to David Moyes at West Ham before linking up with Slot last summer. In a statement, Heitinga said: "I am incredibly excited to start. The last years in England have done me a lot of good. I've been able to develop further alongside David Moyes and Arne Slot, while also getting a behind-the-scenes look at two major clubs. "I'm ready to continue as a head coach and I'm honoured to be given that opportunity at Ajax." Ajax hailed Heitinga's ability after his appointment and said his "drive" and ambitions as a manger were what drew them to him. Club chief Alex Kroes said: "John is a good coach with enormous drive. He is ambitious and has further developed himself over the past few years in the Premier League and the Champions League. "[Sporting director] Marijn Beuker and I spoke to him last year and have stayed in contact since." Heitinga's primary goal will be to restore the Eredivisie title to Ajax after a three season drought. The Amsterdam outfit looked like they were finally going to break that run after going nine points clear with seven points to go - before surrendering their lead to PSV, who pipped them by one point on the final day. Heitinga managed Liverpool for two games this season after Slot and assistant manager Sipke Hulschoff were banned, overseeing a 2-0 win over Newcastle and a 3-1 win against Southampton.


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Tottenham confirm four summer departures, including two goalkeepers and a Champions League winner
Tottenham announced the departures of four players on Saturday morning. It was confirmed that goalkeepers Fraser Forster, 37, and Alfie Whiteman, 26, would both be leaving upon the expiration of their contracts at the end of June. Former Real Madrid left back Sergio Reguilon, 28, will also leave Spurs as a free agent this summer, while Timo Werner is returning to RB Leipzig. Werner, 29, had been on loan at Tottenham since January 2024 but the club decided against taking up their option of signing him permanently for €10 million (£8.43m). A short club statement posted on social media read: 'We can confirm the departures of Fraser Forster, Sergio Reguilon and Alfie Whiteman following the conclusion of their contracts, while Timo Werner departs following the conclusion of his loan spell. 'Thank you for your service and all the best for the future, lads'. All four departing players travelled to Bilbao earlier this month for the Europa League final. None of them featured in the 1-0 win over Manchester United but they were all pictured in full kit during the post-match trophy ceremony. Ex-England international Forster spent three seasons at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but was never the first choice keeper. He made 34 first-team appearance during his Spurs career, including 21 in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Whiteman spent a decade with Spurs after joining the club's youth ranks in 2015. His only senior outing for Tottenham came in November 2020 when he featured as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 4-0 win over Ludogorets. Reguilon joined Spurs from Real in September 2020 and played in 67 games during his first two seasons in north London. But he spent the following two campaigns out on loan at Atletico Madrid, Manchester United and Brentford, before returning to Spurs last summer. He featured in just six matches in his final Spurs season, taking his overall total of appearances to 73. Werner — who won the UEFA Champions League in 2021 with former club Chelsea — scored just three goals in 41 games for Tottenham. He had netted 23 goals in 89 games duirng his Chelsea career.