Dream Nottingham Forest XI for 2026/27 amid Elliot Anderson bids and striker search | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest will look to refine Vitor Pereira’s squad this summer as the 2026/27 fixtures go live at 10am, starting the countdown.

According to Nottingham Post, after his February impact Pereira wants progress, aiming to push for Europe rather than another survival fight, keeping the core and adding select signings, with business done early before pre-season. The window opened on Monday and clubs have until September 1 to complete deals.

Defensive continuity is prized, with a new deal for Neco Williams important and Ola Aina needing to be fit for the opening day. With Nicolo Savona potentially moving on amid Italian interest, full-back depth is likely to be addressed. Atalanta’s Raoul Bellanova has been linked, offering cover at right-back, wing-back, centre-back or winger.

Pereira may also want the option of a back three, and with a question mark over Morato’s future another defender would make sense. Eintracht Frankfurt’s left-sided centre-back Arthur Theate has been identified as a possible addition. There have been whispers that goalkeeper Matz Sels might fancy a return to Belgium, but with 12 months left keeping the 34-year-old as No.1 would be ideal.

Forest still need back-up in goal, and Manchester City’s James Trafford could fill that role and perhaps succeed Sels in time. In midfield, the dream scenario features Ibrahim Sangare and Elliot Anderson, which would mean a new deal for the former and fending off interest in the latter. City have already seen two bids for the England international rebuffed.

Further forward, wholesale change might not be needed, with James McAtee, Dilane Bakwa, Omari Hutchinson and Dan Ndoye potentially benefiting from a season’s adaptation and a Pereira pre-season. A fully fit Callum Hudson-Odoi would help.

A striker addition would be sensible, as Igor Jesus looks more of a No.10, Chris Wood is 34 and managing a knee issue, and Taiwo Awoniyi might move on. Bologna’s Santiago Castro is among those mooted, and there is still a long way to run in this window.

Potential XI for 2026/27: Sels in goal, a back four of Bellanova, Milenkovic, Murillo and Williams, Sangare and Anderson in midfield, Hutchinson, Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi behind Castro. Subs: Trafford, Theate, Aina, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Bakwa, Wood and Jesus.

Source: Nottingham Post