Evangelos Marinakis reveals Nottingham Forest’s plan for the January transfer window… as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side aim for a historic top four finish after flying start
- In-form Nottingham Forest climbed to second place in the Premier League on Sunday
- Evangelos Marinakis insists Forest will prioritize team spirit over new signings
- LISTEN NOW: It all starts! New formation, some new faces, but the optimism is gone at Old Trafford
Evangelos Marinakis insists that Nottingham Forest will prioritize team spirit over new signings as they look to secure Champions League football for next season.
Forest have made a sensational start to the campaign and will not finish lower than fourth in the Premier League in 2024, having ended the calendar year with a 2-0 win over Everton on December 29.
While Marinakis says Forest can do ‘whatever it takes’ in the January transfer window, the club owner is desperate not to disrupt the harmony in the squad that coach Nuno Espirito Santo has worked so hard to create.
“We will do what it takes to get stronger and of course our coach will decide what he really needs,” Marinakis said. “We have to keep the same spirit and the same atmosphere in the dressing room and all our players have the right spirit this year. This is a very good climate. We must do our utmost not to interrupt it.
‘It is an important achievement because we have players in all positions who perform or even overachieve. For us, this is our number one priority: keep the momentum, keep winning and keep enjoying the journey.”
Marinakis was speaking at the Globe Soccer Dubai Awards after Olympiakos – the Greek giants he also owns – took home the ‘club revelation’ award thanks to their historic victory in last season’s Europa Conference League.
Evangelos Marinakis insists that Nottingham Forest are prioritizing team spirit over new signings
Forest have made an excellent start and will not finish lower than fourth in the Premier League in 2024
Chris Wood took his tally to eleven goals by scoring in Forest’s opener against Everton on Sunday
Now Marinakis wants Forest to emulate them. That seemed unlikely when the club was struggling in the Championship and fighting for survival in the first two top seasons.
Yet Forest have been excellent in the first half of this season, including victories at Manchester United and Liverpool. Nuno, meanwhile, has rebuilt the reputation he earned in four seasons at Wolves following a short, unhappy spell at Tottenham in 2021.
“I wanted to bring Nuno to Nottingham, of course I supported him and now we are seeing the results,” Marinakis added. ‘He is happy and we are happy. We have a good relationship and respect for each other.’