Nottingham Forest’s start to the 2026/27 Premier League campaign has gotten off to a bumpy start, and manager Oliver Glasner suddenly finds himself facing a massive tactical and selection conundrum.
Following a frustrating 1-0 opening-day defeat to Leeds United at the City Ground—courtesy of a late, game-winning free-kick—the Reds are staring down a brutal fixture list. With a swift Carabao Cup rematch against Leeds looming before a punishing trio of league fixtures against Liverpool, Tottenham, and Aston Villa, the pressure is mounting instantly in the East Midlands.
While adapting to Oliver Glasner’s demanding tactical system was always going to bring teething issues, individual errors are threatening to derail Forest’s early momentum. Chief among Glasner’s immediate concerns is a growing issue between the sticks.
Matz Sels Blunder Throws Goalkeeping Situation into Question
With Saturday’s tight contest heading toward a drab, stalemate draw, goalkeeper Matz Sels committed a costly error that handed the visitors all three points. Sels inexplicably allowed Anton Stach’s tame, long-range free-kick to squeeze past him at the near post, gifting Leeds a smash-and-grab victory.
It is far from the first erratic moment from Sels over the past twelve months. With the experienced shot-stopper now entering the final year of his current contract at the City Ground, serious contingency plans need to be put in place.
Last season, Sels found his best run of form only when he faced fierce internal competition for the starting gloves. Recognizing that relying solely on the Belgian without elite pressure behind him is a gamble, Forest’s recruitment team has a golden opportunity to solve the problem before the summer transfer window slams shut on September 1st.
Enter Guillaume Restes: The £17 Million Solution
Fortunately, an ideal market opportunity has emerged from France. Ligue 1 outfit Toulouse are currently facing financial fair play pressures, making it public knowledge that they must cash in on several key assets before the window closes.
At the center of that fire sale is young goalkeeping prodigy Guillaume Restes. Widely regarded as one of the finest young shot-stoppers in European football, Restes is available for a bargain fee of just £17 million this summer.
Despite being just 21 years old, Restes has already amassed a staggering 108 senior appearances for Toulouse. That level of top-flight experience for a player so young is extraordinarily rare, and it explains why he was heavily linked with Aston Villa earlier in the window before they opted to land Zion Suzuki.
If Forest move quickly, they can secure a player who not only provides immediate, high-level competition for Sels but is also more than capable of taking over the number one jersey for the next decade. With rival clubs widely expected to enter a fierce bidding war for Restes next summer, pulling the trigger now represents shrewd, forward-thinking business.
A Brutal Week Ahead for Glasner’s Reds
Glasner has made it clear that his overarching mantra this summer is quality over quantity, focusing heavily on getting the right characters into the building. However, as the frantic final week of the transfer window ticks down, addressing the goalkeeper position may have just rocketed to the top of the priority list.
Before the window closes, Forest must navigate an immediate revenge mission against Leeds in the cup before facing an uphill battle in the Premier League. If Glasner and the board want to steady the ship and prove their European ambitions are real, splashing out £17 million for Guillaume Restes might just be the most important piece of business they do all summer!
