🔴 Nottingham Forest Transfer Update: Departures Loom as Turner Saga Takes a Twist
As the 2025 summer transfer window rolls on, Nottingham Forest still have plenty of business to attend to—especially when it comes to offloading players. While the spotlight naturally falls on potential new signings, it’s becoming increasingly clear that a major part of the club’s summer will involve streamlining the current squad and moving on players who are no longer part of Nuno Espírito Santo’s long-term vision.
After a turbulent 2024/25 season, which ended in mid-table stability but lacked cohesion at times, Forest now face the challenge of balancing the books, reducing squad depth, and creating space for key reinforcements ahead of the upcoming campaign.
⚠️ Outgoings: A Key Focus for Forest
Several players are either on the move or likely to depart the City Ground soon. Some are seeking regular first-team football, others are not in the manager’s plans, and a few high-profile names are attracting interest from clubs higher up the Premier League food chain.
✅ Lewis O’Brien to Wrexham
Lewis O’Brien, once seen as a promising central midfielder for Forest, appears to be on the verge of completing a move to Wrexham. After spending time on loan and struggling to break back into the Forest side, a move to the ambitious League One outfit seems to suit all parties. O’Brien will be hoping to reignite his career under the Hollywood-fueled project in North Wales.
✅ Josh Bowler in Talks with Reading
Similarly, winger Josh Bowler is reportedly on Reading’s radar, as the Royals look to bolster their attack ahead of a crucial season in League One. Bowler has drifted to the periphery at Forest and could benefit from regular minutes at a club looking to rebuild after their recent financial and sporting struggles.
✅ Anthony Elanga Joins Newcastle United
In what remains the headline departure of the summer, Anthony Elanga has completed a big-money move to Newcastle United. Elanga, who impressed with his pace and directness during spells last season, becomes Forest’s most high-profile exit so far. The deal represents a solid piece of business financially, though Forest will now need to fill the void he leaves out wide.
🔄 Morgan Gibbs-White Attracting Spurs Interest
The potential loss of Morgan Gibbs-White is an entirely different matter. The creative midfielder is being heavily linked with Tottenham Hotspur, and while no formal agreement has been reached, reports suggest discussions are ongoing. Losing Gibbs-White would be a massive blow given his influence on Forest’s attack—but the right offer might prove too difficult for the club to refuse, especially if the player expresses a desire to move.
🔁 Matt Turner Transfer in Jeopardy
Perhaps the most dramatic development surrounds the proposed sale of goalkeeper Matt Turner to Lyon.
⚖️ Legal Battle Emerges
According to reports from L’Équipe, Lyon are now attempting to legally withdraw from the £8 million deal agreed earlier this summer. The French club had lined up the signing under their former owner John Textor, but with Textor now out and the club under new leadership, the incoming board is questioning the deal and has called in legal representatives to try and annul the agreement.
This puts Forest in a difficult position. The club was counting on Turner’s departure as part of its squad-trimming plans and to recover some value from a player who has clearly fallen down the pecking order.
🧤 Turner’s Struggles at Forest
Turner’s time at Nottingham Forest was far from successful. Initially seen as a shrewd acquisition following his time at Arsenal, the U.S. international struggled to establish himself as a reliable Premier League goalkeeper. Questions over his distribution, command of the area, and shot-stopping began to mount, and mistakes became too frequent to ignore.
Even pundits such as Gary Neville publicly criticized Turner, branding him “useless” after a string of poor performances. He was eventually loaned out to Crystal Palace, where he managed to restore some pride by being part of their FA Cup-winning squad. However, his contributions were limited and not enough to alter his long-term prospects at Forest.
🧮 Forest’s Dilemma if Lyon Pull Out
Should Lyon successfully back out of the transfer, Forest will face an urgent task: finding another club willing to take Turner. At 31, and on relatively high wages for a backup goalkeeper, he’s not the easiest player to move—especially when his reputation in English football has taken a hit.
Forest will likely need to lower their asking price, offer subsidized wages, or explore another loan deal to offload Turner. Either way, it’s essential that a solution is found quickly. With other senior keepers on the books and Turner clearly not part of Nuno’s plans, keeping him around could create unnecessary tension in the dressing room and financial strain on the wage bill.
🔮 What’s Next for Forest?
With several players still expected to leave, and negotiations ongoing regarding Gibbs-White, Forest fans should brace themselves for more movement in the coming weeks. Nuno Espírito Santo is believed to want a more balanced and streamlined squad—both in terms of quality and character.
The club will also likely push ahead with targeted signings, with focus areas likely including:
A winger to replace Elanga
Creative midfield reinforcement (especially if Gibbs-White departs)
A reliable second-choice goalkeeper (if Turner exits)
Possibly another forward to provide depth behind Chris Wood
🧵 Final Thoughts
This summer represents a key transitional phase for Nottingham Forest. While the glamour lies in new signings, the success of the window could depend just as much on who the club is able to move on. The Turner saga is a reminder that football business is rarely straightforward—and that even completed deals can unravel unexpectedly.
If Forest can successfully offload unwanted players and reinvest wisely, they could enter the 2025/26 season in a stronger, more coherent shape. But time is ticking, and with Lyon’s legal challenge threatening to derail a key deal, the next few weeks will be crucial.