Oliver Glasner, once of Crystal Palace, believes Liam Delap will “reignite” his career at Nottingham Forest, having joined the club from Chelsea in a deal which could reach £50m.
Forest have needed attacking additions for some time, and Glasner’s first steps in the dugout have confirmed that there is work to be done before focus can be pinned on fighting for a place back into Europe.
Delap might have flattered to deceive at Chelsea, but he is a powerful and mobile striker, someone who has proven before in the Premier League their potential to score goals by the dozen.
But Nottingham Forest still need help in deeper zones, with Elliot Anderson sold to Manchester City for £116m.
Why Nottingham Forest still need a midfielder
Glasner has confirmed that Nottingham Forest will sign one more player – at least – before the end of the season, with widemen being considered.
But a midfield addition could be just as important, adding a final dimension following Anderson’s exit.
The Tricky Trees may not have European football to look forward to this season, but it’s crucial that they find form and edge away from the relegation zone that threatened to consume them last year.
Elliot Anderson in the Premier League for Forest | ||
|---|---|---|
Stats (* per 90) | 24/25 | 25/26 |
Matches (starts) | 37 (33) | 38 (37) |
Goals + Assists | 2 + 6 | 4 + 4 |
Touches* | 54.2 | 86.8 |
Accurate passes* | 28.7 (82%) | 53.6 (86%) |
Big chances created | 7 | 9 |
Key passes* | 1.0 | 1.4 |
Possession lost* | 12.0 | 17.3 |
Succ. dribbles* | 1.0 | 1.3 |
Ball recoveries* | 5.6 | 8.1 |
Def. contributions* | 5.1 | 5.1 |
Duels won* | 6.5 | 7.8 |
Glasner has welcomed former favourite Xaver Schlager to the City Ground, but the engine room probably needs more, with Ibrahim Sangare’s current injury illustrating the need for more depth and dynamism.
Anderson is irreplaceable, but that’s not to say the Midlands side can’t pull off an impressive signing before deadline day, landing a silky and complete midfielder with the skillset to slot in for the England international.
Easier said than done, but Evangelos Marinakis does have his sights set on a Premier League midfielder who has the potential to become one of the best in the business.
How Forest can sign their next Elliot Anderson
When Nottingham Forest paid £35m to sign Newcastle United’s Anderson in 2024, it seemed like a lot of money for a relative unknown. But Anderson grew into one of Europe’s finest, leaving for a record-breaking fee.
They couldn’t pull off the same trick again, could they? The Tricky Trees know how to develop a talented midfielder, and according to The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, enquiries have been made over the availability of Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, who appears to be surplus to requirements under Roberto De Zerbi.
The 23-year-old Sarr has been at a somewhat low ebb for a while, but he remains one of the most talented all-action midfielders in the Premier League, just in need of the right environment to help unlock latent qualities. Spurs have an overload of midfielders, though, and could part ways for just £30m – a bargain in the modern market.
Forest aren’t alone in registering their interest. In keeping with the rivalry that has developed over the past year, Glasner’s former club Palace are also chasing the Senegalese midfielder, whose unrelenting energy and willingness to bring a positive slant to midfield marking him as the perfect signing for a club looking to make headway in the Premier League.
Scale is back to 2023/24, the (brief) golden days of Ange Postecoglou in north London. Sarr thrived under the Australian’s management, his robust, athletic performances from midfield met with a chorus of “Sarr-man” chants from the Lilywhites faithful.
There could well be something Anderson-esque about this one, whose struggles to cement himself as a regular starter at Spurs could come back to haunt them. To be sure, he has the technical and athletic ability to become a superstar in the Premier League.
He only started 13 times in the Premier League last season (as did Anderson during his final term on Tyneside), but Sarr showcased plenty of potential, ranking among the top 13% of positional peers for ground covered when running, also inside the top 20% for defensive contributions, aerial duels won, and dribbles completed per 90.
Like Anderson, he is the complete package, and Glasner could find a home for him at the City Ground, allowing him to develop into the player that Tottenham once thought they had secured.
Palace, meanwhile, may well wish to snap up the Senegalese star to partner a certain Adam Wharton in midfield…
