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Decisions due on five Nottingham Forest players as season end approaches

As the summer transfer window approaches, Nottingham Forest face a crucial period of decision-making with several players nearing the end of their contracts or loan deals.

Sunday’s critical home tie with Chelsea will finally decide if the club qualify for the Champions League next season – or settle for a Europa League or Conference League place.

A Champions League spot brings a club around £15.6 million in prize money just for qualifying for the initial league phase. In contrast, Europa League group phase qualification is just £3.6 million – meaning Forest’s final league position is potentially closely linked to their summer spending strategy.

And attention is turning to not only to potential signings, but also to players whose contracts and loans are set to expire.

With one of the three forms of European football already guaranteed, Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad is expected to shuffle significantly to cope with the extra pressure in 2025 – 2026.

At least five first-team squad players either have contracts or are on loans that are set to expire in summer 2025. While some have been regulars this season, others have struggled for game time.

Ola Aina

The full-back established himself as a key figure for the Reds after his move to the club in July 2023, after being released by Italian team Torino.

This season, he has caught the eye in 36 appearances, scoring two goals. His versatility on both flanks has been seen as invaluable.

Aina joined the Reds as a free agent and originally had a one-year deal. Last summer, a 12-month extension was activated. Suggestions of a new deal being offered were rumoured at the start of the 2024-25 season, at the time Aina came across as welcoming to the prospect.

He said: “All I can say is I am really happy at Forest…Let’s just see what happens in the future.”

Last month Spanish outlet, Fichajes, claimed Liverpool had added Aina to their summer transfer interest list for replacing defender Trent Alexander-Arnold.

According to TransferFeed, Aina has been linked to clubs Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Turkish team Galatasaray.

Álex Moreno

The on-loan Aston Villa full back joined Forest in August 2024, after helping the West Midlands team qualify for the Champions League the previous season.

This season, he has made 19 appearances in the Garibaldi.

Spanish side Real Betis look read to renew their interest in Moreno. Spanish publication Que reported: “Manu Fajardo, Real Betis’ sporting director, continues to work on improving the green and white squad.”

According to reports from ‘Radio Sevilla’, Betis want Moreno for next season and had already attempted to “break his loan” at Forest last January – but were knocked back.

Harry Toffolo

The full-back moved to Forest from Huddersfield Town in 2022 ahead of their return to the Premier League.

He is an experienced defender, but has struggled to come across game time. This season he has made seven appearances, having fallen behind Alex Moreno and Neco Williams.

Last month he told BBC Radio Nottingham, “I don’t really get to experience that much because I don’t get to play as often as I would like to.”

Willy Boly

The central defender joined the Reds in September 2022 from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

His original contract was a two-year term in 2022 and last May, Boly signed a new contract after his strong season at the club. He agreed to a one-year deal to keep him at the City Ground until summer 2025, with the club holding an option for a second year.

Like Toffolo, Boly has struggled to find a way into the squad – having only made nine appearances this season. This is largely due to Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic becoming immovable objects in the centre of the Forest back line since early on in the season.

Boly will become a free agent at the end of a season, if no extension is agreed and has reportedly had an offer to move to Saudi Arabia. Ivory Coast publication 225foot says Al-Riyadh, currently 9th in the Saudi Pro League, have set their sights on the 33-year-old.

Wayne Hennessey

The goalkeeper re-joined the Reds in January after recovering from an Achilles injury he sustained during the 2023/24 season.

Hennessey is a Wales international with 109 caps. He made nine appearances for Forest after joining from Burnley in 2022. His last competitive game appearance was representing his country in October 2023.

This season he has not made any appearances, and has been on the bench as a back-up to Matz Sels, due to an injury to second-choice keeper Carlos Miguel.

While an extension of his contract looks unlikely, Hennessey’s future looks very bright. Wales have reportedly offered the 38-year-old a coaching opportunity with their Under-21s squad.