Compared to the chaotic deals in previous years, Nottingham Forest had a far more casual approach throughout the summer transfer window this time around.
Whilst they still signed 11 new recruits, there was a great urge to focus on quality over quantity to help take the club farther away from the Premier League’s relegation zone.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s team concluded the summer window with a net cost of £18m – outstanding work considering the quality of arrivals such as Nikola Milenkovic and James Ward-Prowse.
The team also made some noteworthy sales, with Moussa Niakhate and Orel Mangala bringing in over £47 million for the Reds, which is a significant sum given their aspirations to remain inside the PSR boundaries for an additional fiscal year.
But in the closing moments of the window, they also showed their aspirations by turning down a substantial offer for one of their talismans.
Anthony Elanga’s time at Nottingham Forest
Anthony Elanga, a winger, came to Forest in the summer with high expectations after leaving Manchester United in a £15 million move.
It’s safe to say he lived up to those expectations, registering 14 goal contributions in the Premier League last season, the second most of any player in the Reds squad.
As a result of his sensational displays in the East Midlands last season, he attracted major interest during the summer transfer window – most notably from Newcastle United.
On deadline day, the Reds reportedly turned down a £50 million offer from Eddie Howe’s team, indicating Marinakis’ desire to hold onto his finest players.
However, it’s safe to say a deal for another player has failed to be as successful, with the signing unable to break into the Forest first-team during his time at the club.
South Korean forward Hwang Ui-Jo joined the Reds in a £4.2m deal from French side Bordeaux back in the summer of 2022 before moving to sister club Olympiacos on a season-long loan.
He’s since been on three separate loan spells to Norwich City, FC Seoul and Alanyaspor, only scoring eight goals over those various stints – resulting in no competitive appearances for the Reds’ first team and looking like a complete waste of money.
Unsurprisingly, he’s not featured in a single match day squad this season having failed to secure a move away from the East Midlands, with Hwang now just merely collecting a wage from the club.
| Nottingham Forest players who earn less than Hwang | |
|---|---|
| Player | Weekly wage |
| Ola Aina | £40k-p/w |
| Nicolas Dominguez | £35k-p/w |
| Danilo | £30k-p/w |
| Murillo | £30k-p/w |
| Anthony Elanga | £25k-p/w |
| Ryan Yates | £25k-p/w |
| Stats via Capology | |
The 32-year-old earns a staggering £45k-per-week as per Capology, a figure that is nearly two times more than star man Elanga who only earns £25k-per-week despite his stellar form over the last 12 months.
With the club’s recent battle with PSR, they will want to avoid a repeat of last season which saw Nuno’s side hit with a four-point deduction.
Spending huge wages on mediocre talents would undoubtedly contribute to the financial situation at the club, with the hierarchy needing to cut ties with many players to avoid spending such hefty wages on fringe players.
Hwang is just one example of the players who the club need to desperately get rid of, with the South Korean unable to justify his transfer fee and wages at the City Ground.
