Journalist Graeme Bailey has said that he thinks Nottingham Forest want another centre-back this summer.
There has been quite the influx of new arrivals at the City Ground as they prepare for their return to the Premier League this off-season.
11 players have joined the Reds as owner Evangelos Marinakis continues to follow through on his promise that he would back Steve Cooper in the market.
Jesse Lingard has become the latest arrival in the east Midlands in a landmark deal for the club, but the £8.5m signing of Mainz captain Moussa Niakhate could yet prove a stroke of genius as he comes in to bolster the backline.
He has played over 150 games in two of Europe’s top five leagues between spells in Germany and France, but Bailey has hinted that the club may look to add another body at the back in order to widen Cooper’s choices at the heart of his defence.
Do Forest need to sign another CB?Yes
No
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Speaking on the 90min Talking Transfers podcast, he said: “I think they want another centre-half, I’m told, as well. Because they do play three at the back, Forest, and they’ve got McKenna and Worrall who are already there, but I think they want another one.”
TIF Thoughts on Forest…
Will Forest survive next season?
Yes
No
Scott McKenna and Joe Worrall were relied upon heavily last year by their 42-year-old coach as they played 43 and 42 games respectively.
As they acclimatise to the rigours of Premier League football, they will be looking to be complemented by Niakhate, as well as Steve Cook, who boasts 167 English top-flight appearances.
However, with the departure of Tobias Figueiredo, who played 22 times for the club last season, you would feel they will need to add another option, as alluded to by Bailey.
Considering they operate with three centre-backs every game, adding at least a fifth seems like a necessity in order to be readily equipped for what could be a relegation-threatened campaign.
Forest also have Loic Mbe Soh, who hasn’t impressed yet and missed much of last season through injury.