Nottingham Forest still have areas of their squad to improve before the new season begins, but Oliver Glasner’s side is gradually taking shape.
A heavy 4-1 defeat to Sporting CP in pre-season highlighted some shortcomings, yet it also confirmed that Glasner is likely to stick with his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation. One of the biggest priorities remains strengthening the midfield following Elliot Anderson’s £116 million transfer to Manchester City.
Although Forest have brought in Xaver Schlager, a player Glasner knows well from their time together at Wolfsburg, the club are still searching for additional quality in the centre of the pitch. Anderson’s departure has left a major gap, and Forest are exploring several midfield options.
Tottenham youngster Lucas Bergvall remains on the club’s radar, while Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders has also emerged as a target. Reijnders joined City from AC Milan for £46.5 million last summer and arrived with a reputation as a technically gifted box-to-box midfielder. However, despite a bright start, he gradually fell out of favour under Pep Guardiola.
Given the sizeable fee City would likely demand, Forest may decide to pursue other alternatives. One player attracting growing interest is Colombian midfielder Gustavo Puerta. Reports from Portugal claim Forest have opened discussions with Racing Santander over a potential £17 million move, with Hull City also monitoring the situation.
Puerta impressed during Colombia’s World Cup campaign and, at 23, is viewed as a younger, more dynamic option. His energetic style and defensive work rate could make him an ideal fit for Glasner’s system as Forest continue rebuilding their midfield after Anderson’s exit.
Statistics also suggest Puerta could offer greater defensive stability. While Reijnders averaged just 1.7 duels won and 0.4 tackles per Premier League game during the 2025/26 season, Puerta averaged 5.2 duels per match in Spain’s second division, highlighting his ability to compete physically and recover possession.
With Forest keen to add further reinforcements before the transfer window closes, Puerta is emerging as a strong candidate to become the club’s next midfield signing.
