​Nottingham Forest are moving at lightning speed to put the finishing touches on their squad before the transfer window slams shut, with manager Oliver Glasner hunting down a marquee midfield addition to fill the massive void left by Elliot Anderson’s blockbuster £116 million departure to Manchester City.

​Following a turbulent 2025/26 campaign that saw the Reds cycle through four different managers before Vitor Pereira ultimately secured Premier League safety and a run to the Europa League semi-finals, a new dawn has arrived under Glasner. While Forest have already secured smart business by bringing in Austrian international Xaver Schlager on a free transfer from RB Leipzig, the club’s recruitment chiefs are far from finished.

​The Hunt for Anderson’s Successor: Reijnders Slips Away

​For weeks, Manchester City star Tijjani Reijnders sat firmly at the absolute top of Nottingham Forest’s midfield wishlist. Securing a player of Reijnders’ technical brilliance would have instantly transformed the Reds’ engine room.

​However, forest’s pursuit has hit a massive roadblock. According to reports, the Dutch international looks increasingly poised to complete a lucrative move to Saudi Pro League outfit Al Qadsiah, forcing Forest’s recruitment team to swiftly pivot toward alternative targets.

​Enter Lucas Bergvall: Tottenham’s Valuation Poses a Stumbling Block

​With the Reijnders deal slipping out of reach, The Athletic has revealed that Nottingham Forest have firmly turned their attention to Tottenham Hotspur young gun Lucas Bergvall.

​The talented Swedish international has long been regarded as one of Europe’s most exciting young midfielders. However, prising him away from North London will be no easy feat. Sources indicate that Tottenham’s steep valuation could become a major stumbling block in negotiations, with Spurs having already rebuffed an initial bid from interested suitors for the teenager.

​Whether Forest return with an improved package to test Tottenham’s resolve before the deadline remains one of the window’s most compelling subplots.

​Glasner’s Internal Solution: James McAtee Stepping Up

​While the club works frantically behind the scenes to secure an external marquee signing, Glasner may have accidentally stumbled upon a massive internal solution during pre-season.

​Following Forest’s impressive 2-1 pre-season victory over German giants Bayer Leverkusen, all eyes were on James McAtee. Operating in a deeper, more demanding central midfield role—a position Glasner has actively molded him into since taking over the reins—McAtee put on a masterclass.

​Last season, McAtee struggled for consistent regular-season minutes, starting just two Premier League matches alongside 12 appearances from the bench. But his standout performances in pre-season have completely revitalized his status within the squad, offering Glasner a dynamic, creative alternative if a big-money pursuit like Bergvall falls through.

​The Final Stretch of the Transfer Window

​As the clock ticks down toward deadline day, Nottingham Forest find themselves at a fascinating crossroads.

​With Xaver Schlager already integrated, the potential emergence of James McAtee, and aggressive pursuits for elite targets like Lucas Bergvall, Oliver Glasner’s squad is shaping up for a much more stable and competitive campaign. Whether the Reds pull off a late coup for Tottenham’s Swedish star or choose to trust internal talent, Forest fans are in for a thrilling conclusion to the summer transfer window.