Nottingham Forest were hit with a Premier League charge on Monday for breaches of the league’s Profit and Sustainability rules.
Along with Everton, who have fallen foul of the statutes for a second time this season, Forest could face a points penalty if they are found guilty by the independent Premier League commission.
Premier League regulations state that clubs can lose no more than £105million over a three-year period.
Since returning to the top-flight in 2022, the Midlands club have embarked on an extraordinary spending spree which might now have come back to bit them, having successfully avoided an immediate return to the Championship last term.
In just three transfer windows, 43 players have been brought in at a cost of around £300m. Let’s take a look at the 10 worst additions and those that the club have managed to get right.
Forest narrowly avoided relegation last season after a signing a raft of players during the two transfer windows
Owner Evangelos Marinakis has presided over an extraordinary turnover of additions that has seen 43 players join the club since Forest returned to the top-flight in 2022
Forest’s 10 worst transfers
Emmanuel Dennis £13m, Watford. 2
The first of many poor signings after promotion, he was being offered to clubs only months after arriving and was loaned to Istanbul Basaksehir last summer.
Matt Turner £7m, Arsenal. 4
When the ball is at his feet, every Forest fan looks terrified. Believing he was a No 1 keeper at this level was recruitment at its worst.
Odysseas Vlachodimos £4m, Benfica. 4
Signed last summer like Turner, with whom he is losing the race for a starting place. That tells you all you need to know.
Jesse Lingard Free. 1
Possibly the worst deal in the history of the club. The former England midfielder was paid more than £100,000 a week upon signing in July 2022 and delivered next to nothing.
Omar Richards £7m, Bayern Munich. 1
Was the defender injured when he joined the same month as Lingard? He has not made a single appearance and is on loan at Olympiacos.
Josh Bowler £2m, Blackpool. 2
Bizarre signing. Bowler has never made a senior appearance for Forest since signing in September 2022 and is now on loan at Cardiff.
Jesse Lingard was paid more than £100,000 a week during a disastrous spell at the City Ground
Jonjo Shelvey saw out just six months of a two-and-a-half year contract at Nottingham Forest
Jonjo Shelvey £5.5m, Newcastle. 1
Signed in January 2023 and rivals Lingard for calamity value. Given a two-and-a-half-year deal at £70,000 a week, his contract had been cancelled by September.
Andrew Omobamidele £11m, Norwich. 2
Why was he signed last summer? Centre back was never considered by Cooper and he could leave on loan this month.
Nuno Tavares £1m loan fee, Arsenal. 2
Get him in a hurry last August, realise he’s not good enough by September, try to dispose of him in January. Textbook Nottingham Forest.
Divock Origi Loan, AC Milan. 2
What? Why? How? So many questions about this transfer in September. Origi isn’t the answer to any of the questions that matter.
Five transfers they got right
Morgan Gibbs-White — £25m, Wolves. 8
The attacking midfielder was one of the few specifically requested by former boss Steve Cooper and has become one of Forest’s key men since joining in summer 2022.
Willy Boly — £2m, Wolves. 8
Injury record made this deal look a risk in summer 2022 but he has done well and should thrive under Nuno, who coached him at Wolves.
Morgan Gibbs-White has established himself as Forest’s best and most reliable performer since arriving from Midland rivals Wolves in 2022
Danilo — £17m, Palmeiras. 8
Stunning impact initially after signing last January, and though this season has been a slow burner he still looks a big talent.
Anthony Elanga — £15m Manchester United. 7
Signed last summer, his pace means he can be very effective despite technical and tactical deficiencies. He is proving a rare smart signing for Forest.
Murillo — £10m, Corinthians. 9
Perhaps the best of the lot. Brazilian centre back looks top class and is destined for the Champions League.
