Nottingham Forest have returned to the top-flight of English football for the first time in 23 years, and they are not messing about.
Their transfer business this summer is reflective of a club that is not just here to make up the numbers, but one that is ambitious and ready to re-establish themselves at the highest level.
With 22 new arrivals and over £145m spent, Nottingham Forest mean business.
Ten of the 18 players in Forest’s playoff final squad against Huddersfield left in the summer, including Brice Samba and loanees Djed Spence and James Garner.
Substantial recruitment was therefore needed in Steve Cooper’s side.
Goalkeepers
In the goalkeeping department, Dean Henderson joined on a season-long loan from Manchester United while Wayne Hennessey signed on a free transfer from freshly relegated Burnley.
With both Brice Samba and Ethan Horvath departing, Forest have acted decisively in bringing in two proven Premier League goalkeepers who are upgrades on what they previously had.
There can be no complaints with this business. 8/10.
Defence
With Cooper opting to use a three-at-the-back system with wingbacks, it was clear that several acquisitions would be needed who could provide quality and squad depth.
The first of those was French right-back Giulian Biancone, who cost £9m from Troyes.
Then came Mainz captain Moussa Niakhaté. The 26-year-old Frenchman cost a respectable £9m and has already shown his quality in the couple of games he played before injury.
Former Reading and Bayern Munich left-back Omar Richards joined for £7.65m.
Following an impressive loan spell at Fulham, Forest signed Liverpool’s Neco Williams for around £18m and have a player who, at 21, has been around one of the best sides in Europe during his early development whilst possessing very refined technical ability.
Left-back Harry Toffolo went from the playoff losers to playoff winners as he switched Huddersfield for Forest in a £2m move, but his early starting place may soon be usurped.
The reason why? Renan Lodi, to be quite blunt.
The Brazilian traded Atletico Madrid for Forest this summer in a loan move which many fans could not even have dreamt of 12 months ago. Only 24, Lodi will be pushing to make the World Cup squad while Forest have a £25m option to buy next summer.
To round off his defensive business, Cooper signed exciting talent Loïc Badé, 22, and the experienced Willy Boly, 31, from Stade Rennais and Wolves respectively on deadline day.
Former Tottenham right-back Serge Aurier then arrived as a free agent to add extra experience.
Overall, Forest knew what they needed and made sure they brought it in. 9/10.
Midfield
The midfield started slowly with the signing of Costa Rican youngster Brandon Aguilera, who was bought and loaned back to Guanacasteca.
Then, like his teammate Toffolo, Lewis O’Brien joined Forest from Huddersfield for £8.5m.
After that, many were gobsmacked to see the arrival of Jesse Lingard on a free transfer after leaving Manchester United. At 29, Lingard has plenty still to offer and brings undisputed star power to this new look side.
In what looks to be an astute piece of business, Orel Mangala arrived from Stuttgart for £12m and has already shown quality on the ball and intelligence off it.
Experienced Senegalese midfielder Cheikhou Kouyaté, formerly of West Ham and Crystal Palace, arrived on a free as well.
Within days of each other, Forest then signed Atalanta captain Remo Freuler and Wolves talent Morgan Gibbs-White.
The former was influential in the Italian club’s ventures into the Champions League, while the latter arrives with high expectations and a point to prove.
Josh Bowler signed from Blackpool on deadline day and was immediately shipped out on loan to Olympiacos.
With plenty of the requisite activity, the club’s midfield business has been ambitious and exciting, 9/10.
Forwards
Going forward, Forest have been more subtle with only three arrivals.
The first was Taiwo Awoniyi; the Nigerian international and former Liverpool academy player arriving for around £18m off the back of 15 league goals for Union Berlin.
With a physical presence, quickness and an eye for goal, he could be a great all-around addition.
Fellow Nigerian, Emmanuel Dennis, signed from Watford for £13m. He scored 10 goals in a struggling side last season and that goalscoring knack could be invaluable.
30-year-old Ui-jo Hwang, meanwhile, signed from Bordeaux before also being loaned to Olympiacos – an irrelevant deal for Forest fans.
While the additions look solid statistically, there is a fear that Awoniyi, with no previous Premier League experience, could take a while to adapt. Can you afford that time at this level? Nevertheless, it seems to be solid business again. 7/10.
Overall, Nottingham Forest have gone big this summer and they had to do as much. Competition is fierce and the schedule is unrelenting.
It will be fascinating to see how they get on in their return to the top flight, as their new-look squad will need to live up to the toughest league in the world.
Feature Image Credit: Will Hugall