Nottingham Forest Season Preview: Key Player, Signing to Watch, Predicted Lineup and Betting Tip

Nottingham Forest are next up in our 2024/25 Premier League season preview as we look back at their 2023/24 campaign, pick out the key player, the signing to watch, predict where they'll finish and make a betting tip via oddschecker. 

2023/24 Season Roundup 

Forest started the season under Steve Cooper, but with the club flirting with the relegation places shortly before Christmas, Nuno Espírito Santo was brought in to replace him. At the time of his appointment, Forest sat 17th in the Premier League, and that is where they ended the season, too - six points clear of danger despite receiving a four-point deduction following a breach of the competition’s profit and sustainability rules. 

Key Player - Morgan Gibbs-White 

Morgan Gibbs-White was Forest’s highest rated player last season (7.00) and certainly leads by example as the club’s standout player. The 24-year-old managed five goals and 10 assists in his second season with the club, and despite attracting interest from the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham, looks set to stay for a third campaign at the City Ground.

Gibbs-White, flanked by exciting wingers Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi, was a prominent part of everything Forest did well last season under Nuno. After improving upon his debut season last year, expect the former Wolves man to go up another level this time around. 

Signing to Watch - Nikola Milenkovic 

After conceding more goals from set-piece situations than any other team in the Premier League last season (22), Forest moved quickly to secure the signature of Serbian defender Nikola Milenkovic following the conclusion of Euro 2024. The 26-year-old has long been a solid mainstay at the heart of Fiorentina’s backline, and at 6ft 8in, should provide the height and physical presence required to nullify those defensive issues this season.

Predicted opening day XI: Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina; Danilo, Sangare; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

Predicted finish - 16th 

Betting tip 

With 14 league goals to his name last season, Forest striker Chris Wood was some way out in front as the club’s top goalscorer and we’re backing him to achieve the feat again this coming campaign, at best price 13/8 with Ladbrokes, via oddschecker (price correct as of 10:30 on 15/08/2024).