Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has expressed his commitment to keeping the squad intact during the January transfer window.
The futures of key players, including top scorer Chris Wood and crucial defender Ola Aina, remain uncertain as both are set to be out of contract at the end of the 2024-2025 season.
Aina, who has yet to sign a new deal, is eligible to negotiate with non-English clubs this month. The Chelsea academy graduate has drawn interest from Turkish champions Galatasaray and Premier League giants Manchester City, who are reportedly considering him as a potential replacement for the aging Kyle Walker.
After a series of standout performances for Forest, Aina has become a highly sought-after player, starting every Premier League match this season.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Nuno Espirito Santo emphasized that maintaining the current squad is his top priority for the transfer window. He said, “You never know what is going to happen in the transfer window, but our goal is to keep our players intact. That is difficult because clubs are looking at all the possibilities, including us. This is our priority.”
Aina is not the only Nigerian international facing uncertainty at Nottingham Forest. Taiwo Awoniyi, having made just two Premier League starts this season, may be looking for a move to secure more playing time. Meanwhile, Emmanuel Dennis, who was deemed surplus to requirements, has not been registered for the Premier League and is yet to make his season debut.