After a season of managerial changes, failed philosophy changes and yet another relegation battle - next campaign presents the start of a new era for Nottingham Forest.

Oliver Glasner’s arrival as manager has seen the Reds appoint a proven winner, which further highlights Evangelos Marinakis’ ambitions to make the club a force to be reckoned with.

The Greek owner has constantly put his money where his mouth is during his time at the City Ground - something which no doubt caught the eye of the Austrian.

It appears he’s set to land a key target for the new manager, with a deal advancing for a player who’s been on the shortlist of countless teams across the continent.

Elliot Anderson’s £116m move to join Manchester City this summer has handed Forest a war chest to work from in their attempts to strengthen the senior ranks.

Glasner’s decision to utilise a back-three in the East Midlands has had an effect on the club’s recruitment team - leading to a £34m deal to land Sporting CP centre-back Ousmane Diomande.

The Ivorian is said to have agreed a deal to join the Reds this summer, with a deal seemingly edging closer towards completion after his current side secured a replacement in recent days.

The 22-year-old will likely fit in on the right side of the club’s three-man defence, subsequently offering a top-level talent, with Diomande only being dribbled past on six occasions in the Liga Portugal last term.

Only 11% of take-ons against him were completed, which highlights his incredible 1v1 defending ability - making previous interest from Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United no surprise.

The £34m fee would be one of the club’s most expensive ever, but it could prove to be a bargain if he reaches the next level - which in turn will see his market value skyrocket.

How Forest can land a bigger talent than Diomande this summer

As part of Glasner’s system change at Forest, a period of adaptation will no doubt be needed to achieve success and make the Reds a dominant force in the Premier League.

However, his changes will also see numerous players struggle to fit into his plans, which could also see players depart the City Ground alongside new arrivals.

The hierarchy are certainly working tirelessly to get deals over the line ahead of the new campaign, with Feyenoord right-back Givairo Read emerging as the next key target.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Forest have returned to the table and have presented a second offer to the Dutch side for the 20-year-old talent.

He also claims the player would be open to the move to the City Ground, whilst suggesting that personal terms won’t an issue - but the two sides still need to agree a transfer fee.

The Dutch youngster may be unknown to many Reds supporters, but he’s gained a reputation for being one of the continent’s biggest full-back prospects.

Manchester City and Bayern Munich have both been linked with a move for his signature in recent times, but Forest now appear to be in pole position for his signature.

His stats from the recent campaign in the Eredivisie highlight his quality at both ends of the pitch - showcasing why he could be perfect for Glasner’s system in the East Midlands.

Read managed to complete an impressive tally of 87% of passes and registered 0.3 assists per 90 - with both stats ranking him in the top 15% of all full-backs in Europe.

The aforementioned figures highlight his tremendous quality with the ball in attacking areas - something which Glasner demands in his wing-backs, as seen with Daniel Muñoz at Crystal Palace.

The Feyenoord star also managed to complete a remarkable tally of 1.3 successful dribbles per 90 at a 72% success rate - with such figures higher than 93% of players in his position last season.

Without the ball, Read has also demonstrated his superb skillset, subsequently making 4.2 ball recoveries and 1.3 interceptions per 90 in the Eredivisie.

Read’s 61% ground duel success rate showcases his ability to be strong against the opposition and not get shoved off the ball - which has seen him develop into a tremendous all-round talent.

£20m for a player of his quality and potential would be a phenomenal piece of business for Forest - not to mention landing a player who’d massively thrive in the manager’s system.

Diomande too would slot right into Glasner’s starting eleven, but the wing-back role is a make-or-break position and Read would be able to live with the demands placed upon him perfectly.

The Dutchman would also cost a significantly smaller amount than the Ivorian - but the bottom line is the club’s recruitment appears to be targeting the calibre of player needed for success in 2026/27.