Former Premier League footballer Gabriel Agbonlahor has claimed that he expects Nottingham Forest to have an impressive campaign next term.
Forest gained promotion to the Premier League from the Championship after winning the play-off final against Huddersfield Town, and they have spent no time messing around in terms of getting players through the door, adding 12 new faces to the squad so far.
However, they have lost Djed Spence, who returned to parent club Middlesbrough and has since been snapped up by Tottenham Hotspur. Spence was named in the Championship Team of the Season, so he could be a huge miss for Forest.
Speaking on TalkSport, Agbonlahor was asked who would be his surprise package next season, and picked the Reds because of the exciting players that they have added to their squad.
He said: “For me, Nottingham Forest. Very impressive from last season when Steve Cooper took charge, beat two Premier League clubs in the FA Cup.
“They’ve had some players that they’ve got rid of and have left, and they’ve brought in a lot of exciting players – Jesse Lingard for instance, Dean Henderson has gone there as well.
“So I think Nottingham Forest are a team that turns the City Ground into a fortress as well, similar to [how] Sheffield United did in their first season, I reckon.”
Do you think Forest will get relegated?Yes
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TIF Thoughts on Agbonlahor’s comments…
Although it might take the new signings time to gel together and get a good understanding of how the manager wants them to play, Steve Cooper has spent just over £85m, so as long as they have spent wisely, that should be enough quality to help them compete in the Premier League.
However, apart from Jesse Lingard, the new faces do not have an abundance of Premier League experience, with Henderson, Wayne Hennessey and Neco Williams the only other players to have played in the English top flight, so it will be interesting to see if the new players can adapt to English football and have a positive impact on the side.
If they can, Agbonlahor will almost certainly be on to a winner with his prediction.