Nottingham Forest

Since Leo Bonatini became Nottingham Forest's first ever Brazilian to join the club in 2019, the Reds have remarkably signed 14 players from the football-famous country.

In a competitive market where clubs aim to identify a bright new spark - Forest have targeted South America continuously since Bonatini's arrival.

On BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast, football commentator, scout and author Jon Cotterill, who is based in South America, gave an insight into why the Garibaldis target Brazilian players.

"One of the things it probably started with was Ross Wilson," he explained.

"I met him at Southampton. I think it was from him and his contacts in Brazil and in South America. A few of them have gone to Newcastle with him. It was around that time when things started to pick up South American wise."

Former chief executive Wilson was at the club between 2023 and 2025, but he is now Newcastle United's sporting director.

"It has always been the case that clubs have known about South Americans," added Cotterill.

"In terms of visas, a long time ago, you had to fork out at least £10m to get a South American. Maybe he had to be an international player as well. If he wasn't, you would have to go through a tribunal for special talent."

Forest currently have four Brazilian players as part of their Premier League squad; John Victor, Murillo, Jair Cunha and Igor Jesus.

Glasner's side also have Brazilians Cuiabano and Morato on respective loans at Vasco da Gama and West Ham.

"League Two clubs can now sign South Americans with ease," Cotterill added.

"The market has changed. I think it is down to Wilson and that period when they started to look at the South American market."

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

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Nottingham Forest, Roma and Napoli target Dodo, 27, looks set to secure a move away from Fiorentina in Janaury, with several clubs interested in the Brazilian full-back. (La Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

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We asked you to send in your questions for football reporter Nick Mashiter to answer. In the second of a two-part Q&A on Wednesday, he addresses whether Forest will survive this season and why Oliver Glasner keeps changing his side.

Paul: Why on earth did Glasner ditch a winning combination of Ola Aina and Daniel Munoz on the right side of the pitch against Coventry after it worked so well against Aston Villa? Cunha on the right of the three centre backs just doesn't work either from a defensive point of view, or, more importantly, in making us a progressive team going forward.

Nick: Just like his players are getting to know him, Glasner is still understanding them, although, of course, he worked with Daniel Munoz at Crystal Palace.

Ola Aina, playing in the back three at Aston Villa, was more of an emergency measure with Nikola Milenkovic and Jair Cunha out injured, so it was probably expected Glasner would make a tweak against Coventry, especially as Cunha had started the previous three Premier League games.

Hindsight is wonderful. Glasner would have taken on board what worked and what didn't, and it will help him form his thoughts and plans going forward.

Image source, Getty Images

Jack: Will we survive?

Nick: Straight to the point there, Jack. I don't see another season of real struggle for Forest. Sadly, there is no European football this year, but that will help the squad mentally and physically as they adapt to what Oliver Glasner wants.

Glasner said he is no magician, and he cannot just wave a wand and everything clicks, but his track record and the Forest squad give me the confidence they will be absolutely fine.

After the past few years, it's not exciting, but a season of anonymity could be useful for Forest, to settle and to give Glasner that foundation to move the club and squad forward.

On the latest Shut Up And Show More Football podcast BBC Radio Nottingham's David Jackson is joined by football commentator, scout and author Jon Cotterill.

Forest currently have six Brazilian players playing under Oliver Glasner and Cotterill gives an in-depth insight into the rise of Brazilian players playing at the City Ground.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Nottingham Forest content on BBC Sounds

We asked you to send in your questions for football reporter Nick Mashiter to answer. In the first of a two-part Q&A on Wednesday, he addresses what success looks like at Nottingham Forest this campaign and what Oliver Glasner's team need to do to produce strong performances.

Will: What do you think represents success for Glasner this season? If we trend as we are into Christmas, do you think the owner will look to replace him, or will Glasner be given the full season regardless, assuming we're not close to relegation?

Nick: After last season, Forest desperately need stability, and it would be a huge surprise to see the manager leave, unless it is an irretrievable situation.

The investment in him would make it an expensive change anyway, but it is way too soon to be thinking about anything like that.

Glasner has rejected any suggestions of a quick fix, and he should. Promising easy solves to complicated issues is foolish.

In terms of a successful campaign, that could be subjective. Already out of the Carabao Cup, they only have the FA Cup to aim for if they want silverware, but a steady season, with clear progress both in terms of playing style and results, can still be considered a success.

Consistency has been in short supply, so I would love to see a stable and consistent Forest this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Tom: What do we need to do to make our City Ground strong again and make us hard to beat at home?

Nick: Forest only won four home games in the Premier League last term, and they have lost 28 out of 79 at the City Ground since returning to the top flight in 2022.

That is 35% of their games, while they have won 26 of 79 (32%), so it can be argued the City Ground has not been consistently strong recently - 2024-25 being the exception.

It's a hard question to answer because there is no single thing which can explain what they can do or what they have to do, but over the next few years we will see a huge change at the City Ground with the planned expansion and that will also change the dynamic at home.

The defeats by Leeds and Coventry, and the Tottenham draw, were frustrating, but perhaps a byproduct of Forest still learning and growing under Oliver Glasner.

The next three home games are against Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea, but looking at the results at Villa Park and Anfield, Forest can get results and time together can only help them improve.

Come back to this page later on Wednesday for part two of the Q&A, which will focus on whether Forest will survive this season and why Glasner keeps changing his side.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Nottingham Forest FC

Young striker Michael Noonan will join Nottingham Forest from Shamrock Rovers next year.

The 18-year-old has penned a pre-contract agreement and will officially move to the City Ground on 1 January.

Noonan has scored eight times for Shamrock this season, with Rovers second in the League of Ireland.

The forward also played in five of Shamrock's European games in the Champions League and Conference League qualifiers

His goal against Molde in February 2025 made him the youngest scorer in the Conference League's history and the second youngest in a Uefa club competition.

Chief Football Officer, George Syrianos, said: "Michael is a player we, along with a number of other clubs, have followed closely for some time, so we're delighted he has chosen Nottingham Forest.

"Recruiting high-potential young players is central to our long-term vision for the academy. We want the academy to be a genuine pathway to the first team, and that means bringing in the right talent early and giving them a clear, individual plan to get there.

"We look forward to welcoming Michael and his family to Forest and to supporting his development in the years ahead."

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League has opened a Pandora's box of problems which cannot be closed. However well-intentioned, however morally upright they mean to be, the way the product is perceived around the planet by fans will be negatively affected.

This looks like a gigantic mess, but could also become a bit of a joke, especially if they attempt to rewrite history, and change the winners' names on the Premier League and cup trophies over these past 15 years. I wouldn't want the engraver's job.

I believe financial rules brought in to prioritise financial sustainability were also aimed at limiting the money being spent by the clubs, especially the staggering, ever-inflating sums spent on sometimes fairly average players. It could lead to a de facto salary cap, which many fans would approve of.

The long-term problem for the league is easy to see here: if the top players are then offered significantly more money to play elsewhere, they will be off before you can say 'man on'.

I always thought the Premier League had taken a huge risk going down this regulatory road. As with Manchester City's future, nobody knows what the real long-term ramifications will be.

I have a suspicion it could end up being the greatest own goal in the sport's entire history.

The big take: If City are cast out of England's top leagues, what might the owners do – hang around the lower reaches, or find something else? Wasn't there the idea of a Super League? Keep that thought in the back of your mind.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Most of the time it is not that big a deal if you go into the international break having just lost a club game if I am honest, as teams lose games frequently.

That is just the life of a professional footballer. You have to be able to cope with disappointment as an individual and as a team.

‌Admittedly, players will sometimes say that they want another domestic game quickly, but it is almost always specifically after a 'bad' defeat as opposed to just a run-of-the-mill loss.

‌However, if the team has genuinely played terribly, or lost a game they were expected to win comfortably, you will commonly hear the phrase "we want to have a chance to get back out there and put it right quickly".

‌Players who have had a stinker, even if their team won, might also want to get out again as soon as possible to put it right in front of their fans, or 'reset'. The 'reset' argument is just current football jargon to say, "we will try to get it right next time, and we blew it this week, sorry".

‌The international break can also have the beneficial effect of taking your mind away from a bad defeat. This is not to say that you don't care, it is just that you must compartmentalise your thoughts and feelings. Footballers are among the best at this.

‌You simply cannot go to play for your national team and spend the time brooding about what happened against Brentford last week. That way lies madness and another poor performance, only this time in front of the entire nation.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City arranged "sham contracts" with a number of its commercial partners as part of a scheme to disguise secret funding of more than £830m, the Premier League says.

The League confirmed that City have been found guilty of all charges related to breaches of Premier League financial rules between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.

An independent commission found that, during that time period, the club arranged the "sham contracts" as well as "relying on sham agreements to artificially inflate the club's revenues and reduce its costs".

The club continues to deny any wrongdoing and has until Friday to appeal.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: "The core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period. It details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade.

"It also vindicates the Premier League's decision to pursue this case against Manchester City. While the process to date has been both long and difficult, the League has remained determined that the facts be established independently.

"It is a key responsibility of the Premier League to ensure that the Rules, approved by the clubs themselves, are upheld to protect the integrity of the competition. It is paramount that the League remains competitive and fair for all clubs and for the fans. We take that role extremely seriously.

"This disciplinary case, and this decision, are the most significant in Premier League history. There are elements of the case that remain to be decided, including, importantly, what sanction must follow for these breaches. Now we have the Commission's decision, we are committed to moving swiftly through the remainder of the process, to provide certainty for the League, our clubs and fans."

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Oliver Glasner's reign at Nottingham Forest is now well underway, with his side picking up five points from the opening five games of the 2026-27 Premier League season.

And with the international break in full flow, what better time than now to ask BBC Sport football reporter Nick Mashiter your burning questions on the Reds.

They could be on the squad, injury concerns, Glasner's tactics, the boardroom or a topic of your choice.

Nick will be on hand to answer a selection next week.

Get in touch with your question here

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you to rate Nottingham Forest's start to the season and tell us what Oliver Glasner should be focusing on during this extended international break.

Here are some of your comments:

Sean: It's been a fairly mediocre start to the season. Could have and probably should have beaten Leeds but didn't, same with Tottenham, a creditable draw with Liverpool and a win against 10-man Aston Villa with most of their team now at Chelsea, then that embarrassment of a performance against Coventry City.

Mark: Highly disappointing season so far with a dash of positive surprises. Problem seems to be with the players, who apparently don't have the desire to get to the next level.

Andy: Nothing much to inspire me as of yet, but it's early days. We showed character in the Villa game, but then showed poor defending against Coventry. I think Glasner will get us to mid-table and bring out the best in Delap, Jesus and, hopefully, Ndoye. Don't think Woods will get a look-in.

Liam: Can occasionally see the system Glasner is trying to implement. When they get it right, it's good - but when it's wrong, it's not a pretty watch. Optimistic this will just take a few months, but a very average start.

Al: Having supported Forest all my life and it's difficult to get to upset or carried away by five games. However, Saturday was one of the most lacklustre performances I've witnessed - and I include us fans in that. The famous atmosphere is gone. Do we wait for the team to give us something to cheer about? Or do we get behind them regardless?

Image source, Getty Images

Morgan Gibbs-White now has a "fantastic opportunity" to impress England boss Thomas Tuchel, having been called up late to the squad after other players pulled out, says BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast, Fray said: "This is the second time that he's been called up late and was left out of the original squad.

"Tuchel saying we've just got too many number 10s doesn't explain why he's picking X, Y and Z over Gibbs-White. Whatever the reason, he's obviously had to force his way in by whichever means possible.

"Now he's got this fabulous opportunity in an elongated break with four matches. You would think Tuchel will spread the workload around, especially at this stage of the season. I'm sure all the club managers are hoping that that's what happens."

Listen to the full episode of Shut Up And Show More Football, which also includes an interview with ex-Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi, below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Nottingham Forest content on BBC Sounds

Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Brighton are monitoring Lyon's 23-year-old midfielder Tyler Morton. (Teamtalk), external

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As we enter the season's first international break, we want to hear your thoughts on the opening five games in the Premier League.

It has been a mixed start to life under Oliver Glasner for Nottingham Forest, with one win, two draws and two losses from his first five matches in charge.

The optimism bought by the impressive win at Aston Villa has been somewhat dampened by Saturday's disappointing home defeat by promoted Coventry City.

Glasner plays a back three and it might be taking some time for Forest's players to get used to the system, so it might be that they become a more fluent side as the season progresses.

How do you rate Forest's start to the season and why? And what should Glasner be focusing on during the extended break?

Get in touch with your views here

Bayern Munich are interested in 26-year-old Nottingham Forest and England midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White. (Talksport), external

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Chelsea forward Cole Palmer, Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice and Newcastle defender Tino Livramento have pulled out of England's squad for forthcoming Nations League matches.

Everton midfielder James Garner and Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White have been called up by manager Thomas Tuchel and will join the squad on Tuesday.

Tuchel said on Friday that 26-year-old Gibbs-White, who has six international caps, was close to being included in the initial squad.

Palmer had been recalled by Tuchel after being controversially left out of England's World Cup squad, but has withdrawn with a minor injury.

Mainoo and Rashford were assessed by their club after being taken off in the closing stages of Sunday's 1-1 draw at Fulham.

Rice, who played the full game for Arsenal in their 3-0 defeat by Brighton, will also be unavailable to Tuchel, along with Livramento, who has been limited to three substitute appearances for Newcastl this season.

Like Gibbs-White, Garner - who made both his two senior England appearances in March - comes in after not being selected for the 2026 World Cup.

Nottingham Forest fans will have to trawl back through their memories to April 2026 to recall their last victory on home turf.

Since beating Aston Villa 1-0 in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final, Forest have failed to register another win in six home games across two seasons and under two different managers.

Although Oliver Glasner left Crystal Palace with a spring in his step after lifting the Conference League trophy, the Austrian has endured a slow start to life with the Reds.

Former Forest midfielder Steve Hodge told BBC Radio Nottingham: "I understand the anger, frustration, and I get it. I have not been thrilled at home with what I have seen in terms of creating chances and exciting the crowd.

"The three home games this season, I can't count three or four chances in those games which were clear chances."

So far, only Coventry City (one) and Tottenham (two) have scored fewer goals than Glasner's side in the opening five league games of the season.

"Balls are put into the box, and Coventry headed every ball and they got every second ball. It was just the same again. It was a bit like watching the Spurs game and Leeds game again.

"I don't sit here and think it is going to come. They do struggle.

"Coventry sat in their 18-yard box, their back five with two in front of them, and any ball put in the box there was a blue and white shirt close to it. They defended magnificently."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds here

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Coventry City.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Gary: It hasn't clicked at home for Forest yet but it will soon. Munoz doesn't look, at the moment, like the attacking threat that he was at Crystal Palace, so there's more to come there. Hudson-Odoi's return would be a welcome boost. Then the goals will come.

Andrew: Can Forest play all of their games away this season? And they want to increase the size of the stadium to 52,000. Most fortresses are made of stone or brick. This one is made of straw.

Graham: There will be plenty more of that to come. We are now in 12th, which is about as high as Glasner gets. The tactics are not working and there was no plan B. We were too slow out at the back and showed no fight. Subs were too late - we were losing, and he brought on a defender.

Martin: Lacklustre display by Forest. Too slow in the build-up, passing was way off it and devoid of any ideas going forward. More of this and we will be challenging Tottenham for the bottom spot.

Coventry fans

George: Just what we needed - grit, determination, a moment of quality, and a little luck! Feel-good factor will be back for the next three weeks while training fine-tunes some of the new-look tactics. Can't wait for Newcastle next.

AJ: So proud. Those players have embodied the Sky Blue never-say-die attitude and grabbed a win when everybody had written them off. We'll beat a few more this season that can't match Coventry's heart and desire.

Lee: Unbelievable! For Jay to get our first goal in the top flight since 2001 is incredible! A great display from all the defensive line and congratulations Mfuni for a great Premier League debut.

Stuart: Terrific belief and team effort, with what would not have been the starting XI had things gone differently the previous week. Confidence is key. Goal and a clean sheet is a good day's work.

Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White is being targeted by Tottenham in a possible £125m January move for after nearly signing the midfielder during the 2025 summer transfer window. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Timothy Abraham
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

There will be plenty to ponder for Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner after this result.

Forest have failed to score in their first three home games in a league campaign for the first time in their history.

Their expected goals (xG) in this match was 1.15 compared with Coventry's 0.67, but in their first meeting in the Premier League since 1999 they were left to rue their wastefulness.

Forest's 24 shots today were their second most in a Premier League match since they returned to the top flight in 2022.

Similarly, only Pascal Gross (15) has created more chances in the league this season than Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White (14).

There was a clear lack of cutting edge, which meant much of this creativity was in vain.

Delap, a £45m signing from Chelsea, was supposed to provide some ruthlessness, but none of his four shots were on target and Coventry largely kept him quiet.

Last season Forest won just four of their 19 home games and were among the fourth-worst in terms of goals scored on home turf.

Glasner identified this as a clear area for improvement at the start of his tenure, but this result was a stark reminder that there is still work to do.