Nuno raises Nottingham Forest transfer 'concern' despite closing on deals for two English stars

Downbeat Nuno Espirito Santo is worried by Nottingham Forest’s lack of transfer business - despite the club closing in on two of England’s most promising youngsters.

James McAtee is in line to complete a £30m move from Manchester City, while negotiations continue over a club record deal of about £38m for Ipswich star Omari Hutchinson.

Forest have also added Dan Ndoye for £34m, as a replacement for Anthony Elanga, and tied down star midfielder Morgan Gibbs White to a new contract.

But after a worrying pre-season in which the team scored just once in seven friendlies, Nuno has raised the alarm ahead of their curtain-raiser at home to Brentford on Sunday afternoon and a first campaign in Europe for 30 years.

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“I’m concerned,” he said. “We’re short on options, having solutions the game might need is a major concern. The problems will be ‘ifs’ during the game, problems that arise, we need options and solutions.

“Things are moving, potentially, medicals and then let’s see. We need players but for sure, they are not going to be available for Sunday. We are aware of the needs, the club knows.”

Striker Arnaud Kalimuendo could also arrive from Rennes but Nuno believes every area apart from centre-back requires strengthening in the next fortnight.

He added: "We need another option for the goalkeeper situation. On the defensive line full backs, I think we’re OK in the centre halves. Dominguez is injured, Danilo is not here so we need midfielders, on the wings also. Up front we have Igor [Jesus], Chris [Wood] and [Taiwo Awoniyi] but maybe another body would be good because of the amount of games."

The Portuguese boss has been hoping to change the team’s style having qualified for Europe thanks to a reliance on counterattacking last season. That was despite a late-season slide in which a tired, shallow squad won just two of their final eight games - strengthening his argument for getting more bodies through the door.

He added: "Dealing with doubts is the worst thing you can have in football. We have doubts, who is going to be here, when are they going to come? All these things create doubts. Not only for me but in the club.”

"I already told the players exactly what I said publicly. Let's be stronger, let's make an extra effort, help the team. Those who are here are focused and ready to compete. What is the problem is if something happens, that's the doubt."

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