Following a stellar 2024/25 Premier League campaign that saw Nottingham Forest secure a memorable seventh-place finish and a return to European football, manager Oliver Glasner faced a clear mandate: solve the center-forward crisis. While New Zealand talisman Chris Wood carried the burden with a staggering 20 league goals, a subsequent knee injury exposed a severe lack of depth, leaving the senior ranks struggling to find consistency after Taiwo Awoniyi departed for Coventry City.
With the summer transfer window entering its final stretch, the Reds have heavily targeted Chelsea’s Liam Delap, closing in on a club-record deal worth up to £50 million. However, reports from French outlet L’Equipe reveal that Forest hierarchy are also tracking an even more ambitious, elite-level alternative: Sporting CP goalscoring machine Luis Suárez.
Why Liam Delap Fits the Glasner Blueprint
There is no denying why Forest pushed so hard for Delap. The 23-year-old forward has earned a reputation as a relentless physical presence who loves to bully opposition defenders—a specific profile the Reds have desperately missed.
Despite a quiet spell at Stamford Bridge where he managed just one goal in 28 total appearances, Delap previously proved his top-flight credentials by bagging 12 Premier League goals for Ipswich Town during their relegation campaign. His blistering pace and willingness to run the channels provide an entirely different dynamic compared to Wood, making him an intriguing fit for Glasner’s tactical system.
The Case for Sporting CP Star Luis Suárez
Yet, capturing Delap might not be the ceiling of Forest’s ambition. The club has quietly initiated groundwork to explore a potential move for Sporting CP talisman Luis Suárez—though landing the Colombian international would require shattering their transfer record.
Suárez currently carries an eye-watering €80m (£68m) release clause, and the Portuguese giants have made it clear they are entirely unwilling to negotiate below that figure. Furthermore, heavy interest from long-term admirers Barcelona could complicate matters before the deadline.
Despite the astronomical price tag, Suárez’s numbers across Europe completely dwarf those of his English contemporaries. After arriving at Sporting last summer to replace Viktor Gyokeres, Suárez exploded onto the scene, netting an incredible 38 goals in 53 appearances across all competitions, including five strikes in the UEFA Champions League.
Unrivaled Underlying Metrics
Beyond his raw goalscoring output, Suárez’s underlying statistical dominance highlights why he would instantly transform Forest into a lethal force under Glasner:
- Shots on Target: Averaging 2.1 shots on target per 90 minutes, ranking him way above Delap and outperforming 90% of strikers across Europe.
- Chance Creation: Proving he is more than just a poacher, Suárez chipped in with 1.6 chances created per 90, laying on eight assists for his teammates.
- Box Dominance: Registering a staggering 8.3 touches in the opposition penalty area per 90—the highest mark of any striker in Europe—showcasing his elite “fox-in-the-box” instincts.
Ambition at the City Ground
While it remains to be seen whether the Forest hierarchy will pull the trigger on a club-record £68m swoop for Suárez or stick with their advanced deal for Liam Delap, the sheer scope of the ambition is clear.
Whether Glasner welcomes the bruising physical profile of Delap or lands an elite European talisman like Suárez, Nottingham Forest are making a resounding statement of intent as they gear up for another thrilling campaign!
