Nottingham Forest are in need of a winger after Anthony Elanga’s £55 million exit, and it appears Nuno Espirito Santo has identified a former player of his as a potential replacement.
The Portuguese manager is coming off the back of a successful Premier League season that saw his side make their way into Europe after many had tipped them as relegation favourites.
After losing Elanga to Newcastle, it was expected that Morgan Gibbs-White would also leave, making his way to Tottenham Hotspur, but instead the midfielder signed a new deal at the City Ground.
Now, Nottingham Forest are looking to strengthen their squad in the hope of repeating last season’s successes, and it seems they’ve identified a winger to join their ranks.
Nuno Espirito Santo wants to sign “unique” Adama Traore at Nottingham Forest
According to the Telegraph, Forest are targeting Fulham winger Adama Traore as a serious target, with the club ready to open talks with the Cottagers.
The Spaniard is viewed as a direct replacement for Anthony Elanga, with both players using their pace as a key factor in their style of play.
Nuno, who worked with Adama Traore at Wolves from 2018 to 2021, once described the player as “unique” and someone who affects the game by simply being on the pitch.
Speaking in a press conference after a 2-0 win against West Ham back in the 2020/2021 season, he said, “Adama is a special player; he is unique, and I think when he is on the pitch, he already has an impact on the game.”
With Elanga already gone, a player who possesses the speed of Adama Traore and understands the manager’s style of play would be a smart signing.
How Adama Traore performed under Nuno Espirito Santo at Wolves
During his time at Wolves, Adama Traore made 131 appearances under Nuno Espirito Santo and was often used in multiple positions throughout that spell.
The 29-year-old saw most of his games come as a right-winger, but he also put in shifts at both right wing-back and centre-forward.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 131 | 10 | 18 |
His best-ever top-flight season came under the current Forest manager, as in 2019/2020, he picked up four goals and nine assists in the Premier League that year.
Sometimes players perform at their best when the manager truly believes in them, and based on previous quotes, Adama Traore is certainly one that Nuno Espirito Santo rates highly, which could make him a useful addition to the Forest squad.