The specifics of the transfer disagreements paint a damning picture of the dysfunction behind the scenes. Edu is believed to have pushed aggressively for the signings of Douglas Luiz from Juventus and Ipswich Town’s Omari Hutchinson, while Nuno implored the club to sign alternatives, specifically highlighting Fulham’s Adama Traore.
The result has been a costly strategic mess. Hutchinson, signed for a club-record £37.5 million, was completely ostracised by Nuno, playing just 10 minutes across two substitute appearances under the Portuguese coach. The winger later admitted that “Nuno didn’t speak to me,” highlighting the manager’s refusal to integrate players he did not want.
Meanwhile, Traore is now reportedly close to a reunion with Nuno at West Ham, twisting the knife further for Forest fans who watched their manager’s preferred targets ignored in favour of expensive missteps.
Similarly, the situation with Douglas Luiz has become a financial headache. The midfielder has struggled for fitness since his arrival from Juventus, but the terms of his deal include a mandatory purchase clause of over £20m if he makes at least 15 league appearances of more than 45 minutes. The club is now in the awkward position of managing the minutes of a player they may not want to commit to permanently.