Little did we know in June 2024 that we were soon to experience one of the best seasons in Nottingham Forest’s recent history. The club’s own transfer business was easily their best transfer window since promotion - clearly because they didn’t purchase a single player that I suggested!
Back then I was in the real infancy of what at the time was simply a hobby - as many of you know after improving my knowledge and understanding across the board, I’ve since been fortunate enough to be given opportunities within the game - but it’s still really interesting to go back and look at who I suggested, and where they are now.
For each position in that series of posts, I suggested three players. For the most part, 2 of these were intended to offer an immediate impact, whilst the third was a bit of a ‘wildcard’ pick in that they were either a younger player or came from a lower standard league.
The ‘immediate’ impact players will be marked with a score ranging from 5 (fantastic suggestion), to 1 (terrible suggestion). The ‘wildcard’ players will be ranked slightly differently, with a 2 representing when the player has moved upwards in their career, and a 1 for when they have remained where they were, or moved down a level.
Centre Backs
There were 6 players suggested here - 3 with a view of replacing Murillo (as he was heavily linked with moves away that summer), and another 3 to replace Willy Boly - remember the club essentially signed Nikola Milenkovic for this role, largely due to his ability to help his side defend from set pieces.
Murillo Replacement #1 - Jon Pacheco (Real Soceidad)
At the age of 23, Pacheco had enjoyed a good season with Real Soceidad in La Liga, and as a left-footer was an option to replace Murillo in the starting lineup whilst also giving Forest a far stronger aerial option.
Pacheco remained at Real Soceidad the following season, moving in and out of the team throughout the campaign whilst also picking up an injury that kept him out for a couple of months. Last season, he was sent out on loan to Alaves, before returning to Real Soceidad this summer.
Verdict: Pacheco hasn’t exactly moved upwards in his career, but has remained in La Liga. He gets a 3/5.
Murillo Replacement #2 - Kike Salas (Sevilla)
Salas represented an option that was more similar to Murillo in profile, with defensive numbers that were some of the highest in La Liga during the 2023/24 campaign.
He remains at Sevilla, making another 59 appearances since my initial suggestion, and also made his debut for the Spanish U21 side.
Verdict: Like Pacheco, Salas hasn’t moved to another club - but he has proven himself to be a capable defender in the Spanish top flight. He also gets a 3/5.
Murillo Replacement #3 - Marco Friedl (Werder Bremen)
Austrian Friedl represented the last of my potential replacements if Murillo was to have departed. I felt this was perhaps the most likely of the options considering Forest’s history in the German market. Friedl profiled as a very strong reader of the game, who was one of the best in the Bundesliga at blocking shots.
Friedl, like the other two targets, also hasn’t moved on, but that isn’t to say he wouldn’t have been a good option. He remains captain of Werder Bremen, and also made 2 appearances at the World Cup for his country.
Verdict: Whilst Friedl also hasn’t made a move to another side, he continues to play a big part for his side in the Bundesliga whilst forcing his way back in to the Austrian national team. 3/5.
Willy Boly Replacement #1 - Sepp van den Berg (Liverpool)
After 3 seasons away from Liverpool on loan at Preston, Schalke & Mainz, it was fairly clear that van den Berg wanted a permanent exit in the summer of 2024. His defensive metrics were very strong in the Bundesliga, and at the age of 22 Liverpool were reportedly asking for around £20m for his signature.