Nottingham Forest Must Bounce Back After Mbangula Setback — Barış Alper Yılmaz Is the Winger to Reignite Their Ambition
Nottingham Forest’s ambitions for the 2025/26 season are clear: consolidate their Premier League status, deepen their squad for a historic UEFA Europa Conference League campaign, and evolve under Nuno Espírito Santo with a more dynamic, modern playing style. At the heart of that transformation lies one urgent priority — the need for high-caliber wide players.
With Samuel Mbangula no longer in the frame, following the club’s decision to walk away from negotiations, Forest must pivot quickly. The Mbangula deal, once seen as a potential breakthrough, is now off the table — but perhaps that’s not entirely bad news. In fact, it may just be the reset needed to focus on a bigger, more explosive target: Barış Alper Yılmaz.
Samuel Mbangula Deal Collapses – Forest Left Scrambling for Wingers
Nottingham Forest were understood to be in advanced talks to bring Samuel Mbangula to the City Ground this summer. The Angolan international, known for his direct dribbling and intelligent off-the-ball movement, had been viewed as a cost-effective option to bolster the flanks. However, the deal unexpectedly collapsed earlier this week.
While full details are yet to emerge, various reports have suggested issues ranging from personal terms, to concerns around work permits, to Forest simply reassessing his overall suitability. Whatever the cause, the impact is the same: Forest are back at square one in one of the most important areas of their summer rebuild.
This setback is made more pressing by the confirmed departure of Ramon Sosa to Brazilian giants Palmeiras. Sosa had only joined the club a year earlier but was widely regarded as one of Forest’s most talented wide attackers. His sale leaves a gaping hole on the wing and robs Forest of a player who offered both goals and unpredictability.
In a summer where fixture congestion due to European commitments will demand greater squad depth and rotation, Forest can no longer afford missteps in recruitment. They need not just one, but two quality wingers — and quickly.
Yılmaz: The Standout Option That’s Been in Front of Forest All Along
If there’s a silver lining in the Mbangula situation, it’s that it clears the runway for Forest to go back to a name they’ve long admired — Barış Alper Yılmaz of Galatasaray.
Forest have tracked Yılmaz for over a year. Sources close to the club suggest that he was one of the most heavily scouted wingers outside of the top five European leagues during the past two transfer windows. A January bid was rumored, but Galatasaray refused to entertain offers mid-season while they were in the thick of a domestic title challenge.
Now, the situation has changed. Yılmaz reportedly wants to leave in search of a move to a more competitive European league. His desire, coupled with his performances at Euro 2024, has reignited interest from across the continent — and Nottingham Forest are believed to be among the most serious suitors.
Why Barış Alper Yılmaz Is Perfect for Nuno Espírito Santo’s Forest
- Tactical Fit
Barış Alper Yılmaz is tailor-made for the type of football Nuno Espírito Santo wants Forest to play. A high-tempo, counter-attacking style with sharp transitions and quick verticality suits Yılmaz’s natural game. He thrives in space, loves to run at defenders, and can play on either flank, as well as centrally if needed.
He offers:
Explosive pace
Direct dribbling
High pressing work rate
Crossing and final-third decision-making
Adaptability across multiple attacking roles
- End Product and Development Curve
Yılmaz’s 2024/25 campaign with Galatasaray saw him rack up 14 goals across all competitions. That is an impressive return for a player often deployed out wide in a system that shares goals across several attackers. At 24 years old, he’s entering his prime years — and still has room to grow technically and tactically.
His development trajectory suggests he would benefit enormously from the Premier League’s intensity, where his physical attributes — pace, strength, stamina — are well suited. Under the guidance of a tactically astute coach like Espírito Santo, he could refine his decision-making and become a real asset over the next few years.
- European Pedigree
Yılmaz has experience in the Champions League and Europa League with Galatasaray. That European exposure is invaluable for a Forest side about to embark on their first continental campaign in over two decades. He knows how to manage high-pressure games, travel, and the quick turnarounds between league and cup fixtures — a factor that shouldn’t be underestimated.
- Proven at International Level
His performances at Euro 2024 were a revelation for casual fans, but not for those who’ve followed Turkish football closely. Yılmaz played a crucial role in Turkey’s surprising run to the quarter-finals, giving elite defenders a real challenge — none more so than Virgil van Dijk, who publicly praised Yılmaz after their matchup.
“Barış Alper Yılmaz was running constantly. He was running elusive. It was difficult for every defender,” van Dijk said.
“He made it very hard for us. He couldn’t score a goal, though. If we were to describe him in any way, he is a really important player.”
When a world-class defender takes time to highlight your quality, it means something.
The Only Stumbling Block: Price Tag and Competition
The biggest challenge for Forest — and other suitors — is Galatasaray’s €35 million valuation. It’s a steep figure, even for a Premier League club, and with PSR (Profit & Sustainability Rules) increasingly enforced, Forest will need to be strategic.
Several options are available:
Structured deal: Upfront payment with performance-based bonuses.
Sell-on clauses: Future profits for Galatasaray to sweeten the deal.
Player swap plus cash: Involving a fringe player to reduce cash outlay.
Forest also face competition from West Ham United, who see Yılmaz as a potential replacement for Jarrod Bowen if he were to depart. RB Leipzig and Inter Milan are also circling, which means Forest must act quickly and decisively if they want to win this race.
Forest’s Recruitment Team Must Show Boldness and Belief
It’s worth remembering that Forest’s recruitment team has successfully brought in big talents before — some even under the radar. From the signings of Taiwo Awoniyi, Anthony Elanga, and Callum Hudson-Odoi, to the dramatic January window that kept them in the Premier League, the club has shown they can pull off smart, strategic deals.
Signing Barış Alper Yılmaz would not just be smart — it would be a statement.
It would say:
Forest are serious about competing in Europe.
They can attract top talent away from more traditional “big clubs.”
They are building a squad with a long-term vision in mind.
A Chance to Rebuild Excitement Among Forest Fans
After the disappointment surrounding the collapse of the Mbangula deal, some Forest fans are understandably nervous about the direction of the window. But the truth is this: the club is still well positioned to deliver a powerful summer if they move quickly and focus on the right targets.
Bringing in Barış Alper Yılmaz would immediately change the mood. It would electrify the fan base, provide a player with real flair and power, and set the tone for the kind of season Forest want to have — one of progress, not survival.
Conclusion: Time for Forest to Make the Leap
The collapse of the Samuel Mbangula deal might have felt like a setback, but it can become the turning point of the window. Barış Alper Yılmaz is not just a replacement — he’s an upgrade.
He’s quicker. More dangerous. More versatile. More experienced in big games. And perhaps most importantly, he’s available — and interested.
If Nottingham Forest want to show that they’re not just content with Premier League survival but are ready to compete in Europe, sign players with ambition, and grow into a serious top-flight club, then this is the moment to act.
The blueprint is simple: Go back in for Yılmaz. Get the deal done. Change the narrative of the summer.