Forest plan midfield reshuffle with City Starlet top of the wishlist

Nottingham Forest Scramble to Rebuild Attacking Firepower

Nottingham Forest find themselves at a crossroads. With Anthony Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White both on the verge of big-money exits, Forest’s summer transfer strategy has entered urgent territory. According to the Daily Mail, James McAtee of Manchester City is top of their wishlist as a replacement, and an initial £25 million bid is being considered.

McAtee Emerges as Priority Target

The 22-year-old midfielder, who featured 27 times for City last season and netted seven goals, is reportedly valued closer to £40 million. City’s benchmark? The £40 million they received from Chelsea for Cole Palmer. McAtee, described as “part of England Under-21s’ successful defence of their European Championship title this summer,” has pedigree, promise and proven Premier League experience from his loan at Sheffield United.

Elanga and Gibbs-White Departures Change the Landscape

Newcastle are paying around £55 million for Elanga, while Tottenham have triggered a £60 million clause to land Gibbs-White. Their exits tear the heart out of Forest’s creative and attacking midfield setup. These two were instrumental last season, their chemistry and final-third nous central to Forest’s survival and counter-attacking style.

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Wissa and Bakayoko Among Key Targets

Forest’s recruitment radar is busy. Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, a long-term target, is valued at about £50 million. PSV Eindhoven’s Johan Bakayoko is another candidate, though Bayer Leverkusen are circling. The Midlands club also reportedly moved for Juventus duo Timothy Weah and Samuel Mbangula earlier in the window, and have shown interest in Malick Fofana of Lyon. Yet none of those deals have materialised.

As it stands, Forest are in limbo, trying to bridge quality lost and hope for forward progression.

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Emotion: CONCERNED | Club: Nottingham Forest

There’s an undeniable worry around Nottingham Forest’s ability to replace two of their most influential attacking players in such a short timeframe. Losing both Elanga and Gibbs-White in the same window is a significant blow. They were more than just players, they were Forest’s attacking identity.

The move for James McAtee is promising. He’s technically gifted, has a winning pedigree, and looks ready to step up. But there are valid concerns. “Though it is understood City value their homegrown player closer to £40m,” paying that kind of fee represents a significant gamble for a player yet to establish himself as a starter in a top-six side.

The reported interest in Wissa and Bakayoko suggests ambition, but both players come with high valuations and competition. Forest’s failure to land targets like Weah, Mbangula, and Fofana shows the difficulty in closing deals when perceived as a mid-table outfit. It raises questions about recruitment planning.

Forest fans will demand urgency. With the Premier League season fast approaching, the club must act decisively or risk entering the campaign unarmed in key areas. More than just McAtee is needed.