Latest news with #NikolaMilenkovic
New York Times
11-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Forest's starting XI can compete with anyone, but the squad needs strengthening for Europe
If one thing underlines the strength of Nottingham Forest's starting XI, it is the number of men who would have been credible winners of the player of the season award. Few would argue that Nikola Milenkovic did not deserve it. The dominant defender has been a transformative presence following his £11million ($15m) arrival from Fiorentina in July 2024. Advertisement But there were many other contenders, with Matz Sels, Chris Wood, Neco Williams, Ola Aina, Anthony Elanga, Murillo and Morgan Gibbs-White all in the conversation. Beyond them, Elliot Anderson had a fine debut season following his £15m signing from Newcastle. Nico Dominguez was often an underrated presence in midfield and, when fully fit, Callum Hudson-Odoi was as dangerous as any Forest player. Forest now possess a starting XI that can compete with any top-flight opponent. It is the strongest team that the club has had in decades — a small group that Nuno Espirito Santo was able to cajole into producing a sustained challenge for Champions League qualification, before they eventually finished seventh. But there is still work to do. As they prepare themselves for a campaign that will include the additional challenge of European football for the first time in 30 years, Forest want to effectively arm themselves with two teams. Forest will aim to win the Conference League. They are also aware that, where possible, they might need to rest their best players if they are to put together another challenge for a top-five finish, while also competing for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. Nuno likes to work with a compact squad and that will not change. The club aim to build a squad of around 23 or 24 players, which will enable the manager to retain the sense of unity that underpinned their rise from two consecutive fights against relegation to threatening the Champions League spots. The club's retained list includes 33 names, with only Harry Toffolo released. He was a highly respected figure in the dressing room, where he remained a positive influence even when not getting much game time. The club intend to extend the contract of another man who fits that description, Willy Boly, who has valuable European experience with Braga and Wolves. Advertisement The expected arrival of Botafogo trio Igor Jesus, Cuiabano and Jair Cunha will add to the squad again, which is why the number of players heading out the exit will be as significant as those coming in. Eight have been out on loan and Forest will look to find a new home for many of them again — in some cases because they are not needed, in others for their development. One permanent departure will be goalkeeper Matt Turner, who is close to completing an £8million move to French club Lyon. They previously signed Moussa Niakhate and Orel Mangala from Forest for a total of £42million. The deal would see Forest recoup much of the £10million they paid Arsenal in August 2023 for Turner, who spent last season on loan at Crystal Palace. Forest's shopping list still includes another goalkeeper, a full-back, a winger and another forward option — with Yoane Wissa still a player the club admire, having had one £22million bid rejected for the Brentford man in January. Brazil international Jesus is seen as a man who can make an immediate impact. He will compete for a starting place with 20-goal striker Wood and Nigerian international Taiwo Awoniyi. Wissa would provide another quality option, as he is capable of playing either as an orthodox forward or in a wider role. Awoniyi may find himself down the pecking order in the Premier League, but he is one of a number of players who could be valuable in Europe, which will be key in Forest's thinking. Forest will hope to find a move for another striker, Emmanuel Dennis, as he heads into the final year of his contract after returning from Blackburn Rovers. The situation is the same with midfielder Lewis O'Brien and winger Josh Bowler, who have returned from Swansea City and Luton Town respectively. At the other end, Sels has excelled for Forest, with his penalty shootout heroics having helped Forest to FA Cup wins over Exeter City, Ipswich Town and Brighton & Hove Albion. The 13 clean sheets he kept earned him the Premier League Golden Glove award, shared with Arsenal's David Raya, but Forest want a more experienced backup; somebody to push Sels for his place more than Carlos Miguel has. Forest's back four personifies the club's position perfectly. If they were able to pick a quartet of Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo and Williams in every game, they would be well equipped. But the reality is they will need more options. In Morato and Boly, they have two players who can provide that in the centre, while David Carmo, who had been on loan at sister club Olympiacos, will be intent on proving that he can compete for a place. He is not currently expected to return to Athens, where he made a positive impact, making 20 Super League and eight Europa League appearances for Olympiacos last season. Advertisement Left-back Cuiabano, 23, and centre-back Cunha, 20, are both regarded as players with bright futures if given the time and opportunity to evolve. In Brazil, Cunha is seen as a player with vast ability but also a few youthful rough edges. Presuming the deal to sign the trio of Botafogo players goes through without a hitch, Cunha would benefit from an environment where he would be able to learn from the likes of Murillo, Milenkovic and Boly. Tyler Bindon, who Forest signed from Reading before allowing him to return there on loan in January, is another exciting prospect in the centre of defence. His progress might be best served via a loan move to a Championship club. Forest's own academy product Zach Abbott is regarded in the same vein. But sending him out on loan would rob the club of one of few players in the squad with homegrown status — the others being Ryan Yates and young goalkeeper Aaron Bott. Strasbourg have the option to make 22-year-old Andrew Omobamidele's loan move permanent, while Omar Richards' loan move to Forest's sister club, Rio Ave, could also be extended. Williams, naturally a right-back, has excelled on the opposite side, to the point where he will surely be the first-choice left-back in August. Cuiabano also currently specialises in that position but has attacking instincts that make those who watch him regularly in Brazil believe he may ultimately end up playing higher up the pitch. It is on the left side where Forest are particularly keen to add another defensive option, although the fact both Williams and Aina can play on both sides gives them flexibility. The pair are heading into the final year of their contract and negotiations are underway with both to extend their deals, although those talks with Aina have been ongoing since last year. Forest plan to reshuffle things slightly in midfield, with a number of clubs — very much led by Lyon — keen on Danilo, who would have a price tag of around £20m. Forest have held a historic interest in another Brazilian, Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, and could revive that, with the former Aston Villa man not having thrived in Italy. Advertisement Anderson established himself as a key figure in the centre of the pitch, while Dominguez's dynamism also made him a versatile, useful asset. A serious hamstring injury halted Ibrahim Sangare's progress again early in the campaign, at a time when Nuno saw him as being a regular starter. But he impressed when returning to the side in the final weeks. Skipper Ryan Yates remains a big influence and is somebody Nuno trusts, so even if Danilo departs, Forest will have options. Marko Stamenic made less of an impact than Carmo while on loan at Olympiacos, making only 11 Super League appearances. He is also not currently expected to return to Athens. Manchester City have not pursued their interest in Morgan Gibbs-White, having moved for alternative targets in Rayan Cherki from Lyon and Milan's Tijjani Reijnders. But it may still be a long summer for Forest, as they look to hold on to their most creative player, with City not the only club monitoring his situation. Newcastle continue to track Anthony Elanga, having had a deal that was potentially worth £45m rejected for the winger during the last summer window. Forest do not want to sell the Sweden international, who is a key part of the electric counter-attacking style that Nuno has instilled in his side. Forest are in the market for another winger themselves, while also hoping to agree a new deal with Callum Hudson-Odoi, who is running into the final year of his contract. Jota Silva remains determined to prove himself at Forest and is keen to push for more opportunities. But he and Ramon Sosa, the Paraguay international, would be pushed further down the pecking order if another winger does arrive. Last season, Forest had a small core of players who almost shocked European football by qualifying for the Champions League. Their challenge is to build on those foundations while retaining the compact feel of the squad — and seek to rise again.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Your Forest player of the season
We asked you to select your Nottingham Forest player of the season from the four candidates chosen by our fan taking part in your thousands, we can reveal the winner is... Nikola Milenkovic!Here's what Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external said about him:One of the Premier League's signings of last summer, Milenkovic has shored up a leaky defence - solving the club's set-piece problem in an instant and given Forest a platform this season that few could imagine. His centre-back partnership with Murillo is surely one of the league's best and there must be several clubs wondering why they didn't act the final poll breakdown
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How to remember 2024-25
[Getty Images] That Nottingham Forest and their supporters were disappointed at missing out on a place in the Champions League speaks volumes about the strides the club has taken over the past 12 months. The final whistle at the weekend brought with it a strange mix of feelings. While celebrating European football returning to the City Ground for the first time in a generation and acknowledging the efforts of a small, ultimately too-thin squad in taking the behemoths of English football all the way in the race to finish in the top five, it did feel a little flat. Advertisement Being one equaliser away from the Europa League undoubtedly hurts, as does not claiming an extra couple of points somewhere along the way that would have meant Champions League football. But this season will be remembered as the best in 30 years, with some huge landmarks along the way such as being the first Premier League team ever to double their points tally year-on-year and the first Forest team ever to win at Anfield and Old Trafford in the same season. Beating Liverpool was also their first win at Anfield in 55 years. There was the huge win over Brighton, a golden glove for the excellent Matz Sels, a monumental first season in English football for player of the season Nikola Milenkovic, some remarkable goalline clearances (Murillo and Harry Toffolo spring to mind!), 20 goals for Chris Wood, a first FA Cup semi-final since 1991, and for the travelling fans, 10 away wins. Advertisement For context, across their previous three seasons in the top flight, they had won nine. All this for a team and a club widely tipped to be relegated by a number of high-profile pundits ahead of the season. Even the most optimistic Forest fan might have struggled to see a top-half finish, and now they have a European campaign to prepare for. An interesting summer lies ahead because the current squad struggled with a whole season of Premier League football. Ultimately, it was half a dozen games too thin as fatigue and injuries kicked in. As they try to develop further for next season, depth would have been needed - even without Thursday nights across Europe to consider! Advertisement Listen to full commentary on every Nottingham Forest game, and In The Game every weeknight from 18:00, on BBC Radio Nottingham. And subscribe to the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast on BBC Sounds.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How to remember 2024-25
That Nottingham Forest and their supporters were disappointed at missing out on a place in the Champions League speaks volumes about the strides the club has taken over the past 12 months. The final whistle at the weekend brought with it a strange mix of feelings. While celebrating European football returning to the City Ground for the first time in a generation and acknowledging the efforts of a small, ultimately too-thin squad in taking the behemoths of English football all the way in the race to finish in the top five, it did feel a little flat. Being one equaliser away from the Europa League undoubtedly hurts, as does not claiming an extra couple of points somewhere along the way that would have meant Champions League football. But this season will be remembered as the best in 30 years, with some huge landmarks along the way such as being the first Premier League team ever to double their points tally year-on-year and the first Forest team ever to win at Anfield and Old Trafford in the same season. Beating Liverpool was also their first win at Anfield in 55 years. There was the huge win over Brighton, a golden glove for the excellent Matz Sels, a monumental first season in English football for player of the season Nikola Milenkovic, some remarkable goalline clearances (Murillo and Harry Toffolo spring to mind!), 20 goals for Chris Wood, a first FA Cup semi-final since 1991, and for the travelling fans, 10 away wins. For context, across their previous three seasons in the top flight, they had won nine. Not a Forest fan? Find and follow your club here All this for a team and a club widely tipped to be relegated by a number of high-profile pundits ahead of the season. Even the most optimistic Forest fan might have struggled to see a top-half finish, and now they have a European campaign to prepare for. An interesting summer lies ahead because the current squad struggled with a whole season of Premier League football. Ultimately, it was half a dozen games too thin as fatigue and injuries kicked in. As they try to develop further for next season, depth would have been needed - even without Thursday nights across Europe to consider! Listen to full commentary on every Nottingham Forest game, and In The Game every weeknight from 18:00, on BBC Radio Nottingham. And subscribe to the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast on BBC Sounds.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
How to remember 2024-25
That Nottingham Forest and their supporters were disappointed at missing out on a place in the Champions League speaks volumes about the strides the club has taken over the past 12 months. The final whistle at the weekend brought with it a strange mix of feelings. While celebrating European football returning to the City Ground for the first time in a generation and acknowledging the efforts of a small, ultimately too-thin squad in taking the behemoths of English football all the way in the race to finish in the top five, it did feel a little one equaliser away from the Europa League undoubtedly hurts, as does not claiming an extra couple of points somewhere along the way that would have meant Champions League this season will be remembered as the best in 30 years, with some huge landmarks along the way such as being the first Premier League team ever to double their points tally year-on-year and the first Forest team ever to win at Anfield and Old Trafford in the same season. Beating Liverpool was also their first win at Anfield in 55 was the huge win over Brighton, a golden glove for the excellent Matz Sels, a monumental first season in English football for player of the season Nikola Milenkovic, some remarkable goalline clearances (Murillo and Harry Toffolo spring to mind!), 20 goals for Chris Wood, a first FA Cup semi-final since 1991, and for the travelling fans, 10 away wins. For context, across their previous three seasons in the top flight, they had won a Forest fan? Find and follow your club hereAll this for a team and a club widely tipped to be relegated by a number of high-profile pundits ahead of the season. Even the most optimistic Forest fan might have struggled to see a top-half finish, and now they have a European campaign to prepare interesting summer lies ahead because the current squad struggled with a whole season of Premier League football. Ultimately, it was half a dozen games too thin as fatigue and injuries kicked in. As they try to develop further for next season, depth would have been needed - even without Thursday nights across Europe to consider!Listen to full commentary on every Nottingham Forest game, and In The Game every weeknight from 18:00, on BBC Radio subscribe to the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast on BBC Sounds.
