🔴 Nottingham Forest Transfer News: Ndoye Nearing Move as Traoré Talks Begin – Nuno’s Revolution Gains Momentum

Nottingham Forest are entering a defining phase of their summer rebuild as they look to transform their squad in preparation for the challenges of the Premier League and the UEFA Conference League. After an uneven domestic campaign that was ultimately redeemed by qualification for Europe, the club is now operating with purpose and intent in the transfer window.

With several first-team departures and injuries exposing a lack of depth in key areas last season, Forest are focused on reinforcing the wide areas — a critical element in manager Nuno Espírito Santo’s tactical setup. Two players are currently at the heart of this push: Dan Ndoye, the Swiss international winger who starred for Bologna last season, and Adama Traoré, the explosive Fulham forward who enjoyed his best years under Nuno’s tutelage at Wolves.

These aren’t speculative links. Talks are already advanced for Ndoye, and initial discussions with Fulham have begun for Traoré. Both players offer different attributes, but together, they could reshape Forest’s attacking identity — and signal a shift toward a squad capable of juggling the demands of domestic and continental football.

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🇨🇭 Dan Ndoye – Youth, Versatility, and a Winning Mentality

✅ Advanced Stage: Transfer Likely to Be Completed Soon

Forest’s pursuit of Dan Ndoye is gathering real pace. According to multiple reliable sources, the club is in advanced talks with Bologna over a deal that could be finalized soon, and Forest’s owner Evangelos Marinakis has personally stepped in to help move negotiations forward — a strong sign of the player’s importance to the club’s plans.

Ndoye is only 23 years old, but he already boasts significant top-flight experience. His performances in Serie A last season caught the attention of several clubs across Europe, but it’s Forest who have made the strongest push to secure his signature.

🔢 A Breakout Year at Bologna

Ndoye was one of Bologna’s standout performers in the 2024/25 season, helping the Italian side not only win the Coppa Italia but also qualify for European competition. His end product is improving, too:

9 goals

5 assists

Excellent performances against Italy’s top sides

Crucially, he played a key role in high-pressure matches, showing the kind of temperament Forest need as they step into Europe themselves.

🧠 Tactical Profile

Ndoye’s ability to play on either wing, his intelligence in finding space between the lines, and his tactical discipline make him an ideal winger for a structured yet dynamic system like Nuno’s. He isn’t just a flair player — he works hard off the ball, presses well, and understands defensive positioning.

At Forest, he could be deployed:

As a left winger in a 4-3-3

As a right-sided forward in a 3-4-3

As a second striker or wide forward in a 4-2-3-1

In short, Ndoye brings both flexibility and a high ceiling — he’s a player Forest could build around for years.

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🐺 Adama Traoré – Power, Experience, and a Familiar Face for Nuno

🗣️ Talks Open with Fulham – Nuno Wants a Reunion

While Ndoye represents the future, Adama Traoré offers something else: proven Premier League experience, unmatched physicality, and a direct working history with Nuno Espírito Santo. According to The Telegraph, Forest have initiated talks with Fulham over a possible transfer, and Nuno is strongly pushing for a reunion.

At 29 years old, Traoré may not be the long-term option that Ndoye is, but he still has plenty to offer — especially for a club competing on multiple fronts. Nuno and Traoré spent several seasons together at Wolves, where the Spanish winger played his best football and was often the team’s most dangerous outlet.

📈 Last Season: Limited Minutes, Strong Output

Traoré had a mixed campaign at Fulham, often being used as a substitute. But when called upon, he was effective:

7 assists across all competitions

Frequently used to turn games in the final 30 minutes

Maintained elite acceleration and one-on-one ability

He’s not the same player he was in his early 20s — raw and often chaotic — but he’s now more disciplined, experienced, and tactically aware.

💣 Tactical Role at Forest

If signed, Traoré is expected to play as a bench weapon — someone who can come on in the second half and stretch tired defenses with raw pace and physicality. However, he’s also a player Nuno trusts, and if he finds form, he could easily stake a claim to start in Premier League and Conference League matches alike.

His presence would also help mentor younger wingers, such as Anthony Elanga and Ndoye, and add competition to a group that often lacked urgency in wide areas last season.

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🔄 Departures Making Room for New Faces

Forest’s pursuit of Ndoye and Traoré also reflects the changing shape of their current squad. The club is preparing for several exits:

Carlos Sosa has already left

Jota Silva is reportedly set to depart

Callum Hudson-Odoi and Elanga have drawn interest but are likely to stay for now

With the club playing a minimum of 50+ matches this season (including Conference League qualifiers and group stage), Forest simply need more bodies in attack. More importantly, they need players who can offer different tactical tools — pace, physicality, creativity, and defensive work rate — all of which Ndoye and Traoré bring in different measures.

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🧠 Managerial Influence – Nuno’s Blueprint for 2025/26

One of the more notable aspects of Forest’s summer window is the influence Nuno Espírito Santo is exerting over recruitment. In the modern game, few head coaches have full control over transfers. But at Forest, it appears Nuno is playing a more hands-on role — and it shows in the kind of players the club is targeting.

Both Ndoye and Traoré are:

Tactically versatile

Physically dominant

Well-suited to quick transition football

Nuno has always favored a structured yet explosive system — strong in defense, quick to break forward. These signings suggest a squad being built in that exact image.

The manager has also reportedly requested additional signings in midfield and defense, which may follow once these wing targets are secured.

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🌍 European Campaign Demands Depth and Quality

With UEFA Conference League football on the horizon, Forest are entering new territory. It’s been decades since the club faced a European campaign of this magnitude, and success will require more than just 11 good players. Depth, rotation, and adaptability are vital.

A group-stage run — or better — will require:

Multiple tactical systems depending on opponents

Fresh legs every three days

Ability to win both tight domestic matches and open European games

Ndoye gives Forest another potential starter who’s played in big Italian fixtures. Traoré offers a weapon off the bench who can change the tone of a match instantly. These are smart, layered signings, not just short-term patchwork.

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🔚 Final Thoughts – A Statement of Intent

Nottingham Forest’s actions in this summer transfer window are starting to tell a bigger story. This isn’t a club merely looking to survive in the Premier League. It’s a club building for a future with European football at its core. The arrival of players like Dan Ndoye and Adama Traoré — one a rising star in European football, the other a proven Premier League dynamo — is a clear statement of intent.

Under Nuno Espírito Santo, the club is embracing a more pragmatic but ambitious identity, blending youthful potential with experienced professionals who understand the highest levels of the game. If these deals go through, Forest supporters can expect a faster, more aggressive, and more tactically flexible side in 2025/26.

The groundwork is being laid not just for survival — but for real progress.