Forest could be set for a challenging summer during the transfer window.
Football is a basic game: place the ball in one end and keep it out of the other. Nottingham Forest weren’t particularly good at either last season. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side concluded the season with the fourth-lowest number of goals scored and the joint-fifth-highest number of goals conceded in the Premier League. Their ultimate goal differential of -18 was only exacerbated by the three clubs that finished below them, in the relegation zone.
As a result, this summer will be critical for Forest, made much more difficult by the impending Profit and Sustainability Rules. The agreement is that, in order to avoid repeating the fines imposed earlier this year, the club will be compelled to make one or more high-profile deals in the coming months. Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Murillo have all been mentioned as potential departures, each with exorbitant amounts attached.
Forest will, however, need to find a way to balance their books and their on-field aspirations. To that end, recruitment will remain critical for a team that was fighting for survival until the last week of the top flight season.
Which leads us to Morato. The Benfica defender has been mentioned as a potential City Ground target for some time, and it is understood that Forest failed with one bid, estimated to be worth around £25.6 million, in January.
Benfica initially refused to sell, but recent reports from Portuguese site Jornal de Notícias indicate that the 22-year-old’s future in Lisbon is doubtful. As a result, the Eagles may be willing to change their attitude this summer, providing an opportunity for Forest to revive their interest.
Originally a centre-back, but more frequently used on the left side of a back four in recent years, the physically imposing defender has appeared 35 times for his current club in all competitions, including five appearances in the Champions League. Morato, who is skilled in possession and strong in the tackle, appears to be the type of defensive boost that a club like Forest might need. Indeed, according to Whoscored, his average match rating of 6.84 last season would have made him the third best-performing player in Nuno’s side, trailing only Gibbs-White and Willy Boly.
Competition for his signature may be fierce; in addition to Forest, Fulham, another Premier League club, are alleged to have made an offer – albeit a lower one – early this year. However, at the time of writing, it is stated that Benfica has no further bids to examine.
Whether this is due to waning interest from Craven Cottage or simply the timing of this latest development, it remains to be seen, but the point is that there is an opportunity here for Forest to rekindle their pursuit of a player who, you suspect, would help them overcome their defensive weaknesses. If funds allow, they should definitely make their move.
