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“What a regret to N’Forest, the player they sold on loan now UNSTOPPABLE, worth more than £59m after leaving
Nottingham Forest have made a stunning start to the 2024/25 season, currently sitting third in the Premier League with 19 points after 10 games. The Midlands club has been one of the league’s biggest surprises, with many fans and pundits astonished by their early form.
One such surprised observer is BBC Sport’s chief football writer, Phil McNulty, who predicted Forest would finish 16th in the table before the season began. While McNulty believed they would stay up, he didn’t foresee them making a push for higher positions.
A key factor in Forest’s success this season has been their smart transfer business in recent years, particularly the impressive signings made in the 2023/24 summer window. These acquisitions have helped the club reach a position in the top four early in the season.
Forest’s 2023/24 Summer Signings
Forest made some big moves in the summer of 2023, including a £30m deadline-day deal for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare. The club also strengthened their attacking options by signing Anthony Elanga from Manchester United for around £15m, Callum Hudson-Odoi from Chelsea for £3m, and Chris Wood from Newcastle after a successful loan spell.
Defensively, Forest added key players like Andrew Omobamidele from Norwich City, Murillo from Brazilian side Corinthians, and versatile full-back Ola Aina, who joined on a free transfer from Torino. They also brought in Nicolas Dominguez, while goalkeeper Mats Selz joined in January.
However, one of their summer signings didn’t quite work out as expected: Nuno Tavares.
Tavares’ Time at Forest
Forest signed Tavares on loan from Arsenal in the summer of 2023, with no option to buy at the end of the deal. The Portuguese left-back had struggled during his time at Arsenal, with former Premier League player Noel Whelan describing his performances as “questionable” before his loan move to Marseille in 2022. After 28 appearances for the Gunners, Tavares made the switch to Forest.
Unfortunately, his time at the City Ground was far from successful. Injuries hindered his availability, and he made just 12 appearances during the 2023/24 season, eight of which were in the Premier League. His performances didn’t impress, leading to his departure in the summer of 2024.
Tavares’ Success at Lazio
This summer, Tavares moved to Italian side Lazio on loan, with an option to buy. It’s safe to say he’s been thriving in Serie A. In just eight appearances, Tavares has already registered eight assists, missing three games due to injury. His form has been exceptional, and he’s quickly established himself as one of Europe’s top creative forces.
Notably, no player in Europe’s top five leagues has more assists than Tavares this season, according to FBref. Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka is second with seven assists, and Forest’s Elliot Anderson is their leader with four.
Tavares’ performances have caught the eye of Lazio’s president, Claudio Lotito, who has stated that they will not sell the full-back, even for £59m, after his impressive start to the campaign.
Looking back, Forest may well regret how things turned out with Tavares. While the left-back struggled to make an impact at the City Ground, he’s now flourishing in Italy, and Forest fans might wonder what could have been had he found his form earlier.
