Read our 2026/27 season preview for Nottingham Forest with Oliver Glasner taking the reins at the City Ground.
Forest enjoyed a successful 2025/26 season in reaching the Europa League semi-finals despite parting ways with three different managers throughout the campaign, and Glasner will hope to have a more telling impact than his predecessors.
Key question
What impact will Oliver Glasner have?
It wasn’t a shock when Oliver Glasner announced he’d be leaving Crystal Palace. His contract was set to expire and his stock had risen above the South London club. It was a little surprising the manner in which he went, publicly criticising the running of the club. The biggest surprise was that his next move was Nottingham Forest.
Glasner had seemingly earned a shot at a club in European competition, particularly considering he was leaving Europa League-bound Palace, and the move to secure the Austrian’s services is a coup for Forest.
It does come with a catch, though. Nuno Espirito Santo publicly fell out with the higher-ups and was quickly shown the door. Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche and Vitor Pereira followed in a chaotic 12 months.
There’s no denying Glasner is an excellent tactician, but can he and Evangelos Marinakis keep out of each other’s way?
Key transfer
Ousmane Diomande
While Nikola Milenkovic and Murilo have forged a formidable partnership over the last two years, the appointment of Oliver Glasner will disrupt that somewhat. The Austrian is set to utilise a back three at the City Ground with Ousmane Diomande stepping in.
Linked with some of Europe's biggest clubs a year ago, the signing represents a real coup for Forest, snapping up the 22-year-old for £34m.
Glasner's arrival meant another centre back was crucial, and Diomande -- who was courted by Glasner at Crystal Palace -- should fit the bill perfectly.
Breakout star
Dan Ndoye
After a promising start to life at the City Ground, Dan Ndoye lost his place in the second half of the season as Forest appointed a fourth permanent manager of the season.
Things should be much more settled this season under Glasner, who looks set to deploy Ndoye as one of his number 10s. Yeremy Pino hardly set the world alight at Selhurst Park last season, but Ismaila Sarr was excellent, as was Eberechi Eze the season before.
While Morgan Gibbs-White will shoulder much of the burden regarding attacking output, there's a chance for Ndoye to shine in Glasner's system and start to repay the £34m forked out to Bologna 12 months ago.
What is a good season?
Top-half
European football, as it does for so many clubs, hampered Forest domestically last season. They very nearly qualified for the UEFA Champions League in 2024/25 but fell away last term as the likes of Brighton, Bournemouth and Sunderland leapfrogged them.
The shoe is back on the other foot, and there’s no reason Forest can’t harbour ambitions of finishing above all three of those.
Unambitious Fulham have a new manager, while Everton have plateaued under David Moyes, and suddenly the mid-table places look much more attainable.
All in all, there’s little reason why, with such a talented manager at their helm and no European football to contend with, Forest can’t finish in the top half.
Bold prediction
Qualify for Europe
Nottingham Forest have a squad that was good enough to reach a Europa League semi-final last season, where they were only beaten by eventual winners Aston Villa.
Yes, Elliot Anderson is a big loss and they won’t be able to take any more of Newcastle’s stars off their hands on the cheap, but it’s a huge fee that allows Forest to make two or three sizeable signings.
The first needs to be a goalscorer; Neither Igor Jesus nor Chris Wood are good enough for a club with Forest’s ambitions, and they can’t rely on Morgan Gibbs-White to score 15 goals again.
But get their signings right over the summer and there’s little reason to believe Glasner can’t take the Tricky Trees into Europe.
Odds will display when market is available.
Will they be better than last season?
Yes.
It's easy to forget that two years ago, Nottingham Forest were contending for the UEFA Champions League places, ultimately finding themselves in the Europa League. There was no shame in losing to eventual winners Aston Villa in the semi-finals, and without the burden of European football and -- hopefully -- just the one manager in charge this term, there's little reason to think Forest won't fly up the table.
The loss of Anderson is significant, but Xaver Schlager should add some steel to the midfield, while Ousmane Diomande brings significant physical presence to the back line.
