Nottingham Forest set to sign Willian on free transfer
Former Arsenal and Chelsea winger Willian is poised to join Nottingham Forest on a free transfer.
WHAT HAPPENED? Forest are on the verge of finalizing the signing of the winger, according to reports in BBC Sport. The Brazilian is set to join the club, providing Forest with an experienced addition to their squad.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: The 34-year-old veteran made 30 appearances for Fulham last season. He scored five goals and provided six assists during the 2022-23 season and was offered an option to extend his stay at Fulham but he didn’t sign the deal. He is set to become Forest’s first signing of the summer transfer window.
WHAT NEXT FOR NOTTINGHAM FOREST? The Premier League side will face Notts County, Valencia and Levante in their next three preseason games. They face Arsenal in their opening Premier League game.
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper names team to face Burnley
Latest Nottingham Forest news as Steve Cooper’s Reds face Clarets in Premier League clash at the City Ground
Head coach Steve Cooper has named his Nottingham Forest team to face Burnley in this evening’s clash.
The Reds return to action at the City Ground looking to pick up from where they left off before the international break. Anthony Elanga’s goal secured three points against Chelsea for Cooper’s side last time out, clinching their first away win in the league since January.
That victory meant Forest spent the two-week hiatus in the top half of the Premier League table, although the weekend’s results pushed them down to 12th. The aim is to kick on, and the Reds will also be eager to make up for their Carabao Cup defeat to the Clarets last month.
Cooper’s squad has been strengthened since that 1-0 loss to Vincent Kompany’s team on the banks of the Trent. Indeed, it was a busy transfer deadline day for the club prior to their trip to Stamford Bridge.
One of those who came in just before the deadline, Ibrahim Sangare, comes in for his debut tonight, as does Callum Hudson-Odoi. Cooper makes four changes to the side which lined up in the capital.
Serge Aurier misses out with injury, with Gonzalo Montiel coming in for his first start at right-back. In what looks like a 4-2-3-1 formation, Joe Worrall, Scott McKenna and Ola Aina make up the back line ahead of goalkeeper Matt Turner.
Danilo is also sidelined with injury, leaving Sangare to partner Orel Mangala in midfield. Hudson-Odoi will link up with Morgan Gibbs-White and Elanga in support of striker Taiwo Awoniyi. The bench will be made up of Odysseas Vlachodimos, Nuno Tavares, Cheikhou Kouyate, Chris Wood, Andre Santos, Nicolas Dominguez, Moussa Niakhate, Ryan Yates and Divock Origi.
Forest: Turner; Montiel, Worrall, McKenna, Aina; Sangare, Mangala; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Elanga; Awoniyi. Subs: Vlachodimos, Tavares, Kouyate, Wood, Santos, Dominguez, Niakhate, Yates, Origi.
