Team guides · Nott'm Forest
Nott'm Forest FPL team guide 2026/27
Squad, fixture runs and rotation partners
Squad leaders
The fastest routes into this club's player pool.
Points and form from 2025/26.
Schedule pulse
Difficulty across the next 5 listed fixtures.
Attack vs defence
Bawler's own split — the same run can be kind to one end and cruel to the other.
Rated 1 (easiest) to 5 from the opponent's attacking and defensive strength, not the official single number. How it's built →
Squad
32 players in the FPL game, by position.
| Player | Owned | Pts | xPts | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | ||||
| Ortega Moreno | 0.2% | 11 | — | £4.7 |
| SelsNailed | 5.0% | 105 | 3.03 | £4.6 |
| JohnBackup | 0.3% | 11 | 0.24 | £4.0 |
| Gunn | 1.1% | 1 | — | £4.0 |
| Defenders | ||||
| MurilloNailed | 1.8% | 83 | 2.70 | £5.2 |
| MilenkovićNailed | 3.3% | 119 | 2.73 | £5.1 |
| N.Williams | 4.2% | 128 | 1.97 | £4.8 |
| Aina | 2.1% | 67 | 2.28 | £4.7 |
| SavonaOUT | 0.0% | 39 | 0.00 | £4.5 |
| NetzRotation | 0.0% | 11 | 1.16 | £4.5 |
| MoratoBattle | 0.1% | 53 | 1.61 | £4.3 |
| Jair CunhaRotation | 0.1% | 13 | 0.86 | £4.2 |
| AbbottFringe | 0.2% | 3 | 0.14 | £3.8 |
| Boly | 0.3% | 0 | — | £3.8 |
| Midfielders | ||||
| Gibbs-WhiteNailed | 9.2% | 188 | 3.88 | £7.6 |
| BakwaRotation | 0.0% | 26 | 0.74 | £5.9 |
| Anderson | 9.4% | 180 | — | £5.7 |
| Hudson-OdoiRotation | 0.6% | 88 | 1.04 | £5.7 |
| Ndoye | 0.7% | 50 | 1.82 | £5.5 |
| HutchinsonBattle | 0.1% | 82 | 1.71 | £5.4 |
| DominguezRotation | 0.0% | 48 | 1.09 | £5.0 |
| McAteeBattle | 0.1% | 17 | 1.40 | £5.0 |
| SangaréBattle | 0.1% | 89 | 1.44 | £4.9 |
| Yates | 0.1% | 30 | 2.05 | £4.7 |
| Da Silva Moreira | 0.1% | 0 | — | £4.5 |
| Whitehall | 0.0% | 0 | — | £4.5 |
| Sinclair | 0.0% | 0 | — | £4.5 |
| Forwards | ||||
| WoodBattle | 4.7% | 41 | 1.59 | £7.1 |
| Igor JesusBattle | 2.4% | 114 | 1.71 | £5.9 |
| Lucca | 0.0% | 9 | — | £5.3 |
| AwoniyiFringe | 0.4% | 43 | 0.81 | £5.2 |
| Sillah | 0.0% | 0 | — | £4.5 |
Points from 2025/26. xPts is Bawler's projected points per gameweek — fixture-adjusted and weighted by how likely the player is to start. Full projections →
Rotation partners
Own one from each pair and start whichever has the kinder week.
Scored by taking the easier of the two clubs' fixtures each gameweek across the listed horizon.
Fixture run
Every listed fixture ahead, coloured by official FPL difficulty.
Latest updates
Forest confirmed the signing of 22-year-old Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP on 11 August for a reported £34m, on a four-year deal with the option of a further year. He made 132 appearances for Sporting and played for Ivory Coast at the 2026 World Cup.
FPL: A club-record-level centre-back outlay who started the very next day — he is an immediate starter and pushes Jair Cunha and Morato further down the centre-back queue. Worth watching as a cheap defender only once his price and role are confirmed in the FPL game.
Dan Ndoye, who only rejoined Forest training in early August after a long World Cup with Switzerland, started and volleyed home Gibbs-White's cross in the 4th minute. Ola Aina, previously listed as carrying a knock, also started the game.
FPL: Both of our doubts are resolved — Aina and Ndoye are training and starting friendlies, so the hand-researched damps should come off ahead of GW1 at home to Leeds.
In their final home friendly on 12 Aug, Forest beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 with an XI of Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Diomande, Murillo, N.Williams; Sangare, Schlager; Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Igor Jesus. Five defenders started, with £34m signing Ousmane Diomande going straight in a day after signing; Kalimuendo came off the bench to score the 90+1 winner from a Netz cross.
FPL: Looks like Glasner's lead XI nine days before the Leeds opener: Sels, Gibbs-White, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina and Ndoye all nailed-looking, and Igor Jesus is ahead of Wood/Kalimuendo up top. The five-defender selection hints at Glasner's back-three shape, which would squeeze Forest's fourth-choice centre-backs.
Tracked daily from cited sources. News for every club is on team news.
Manager & style
Appointed 6 July 2026, replacing Vitor Pereira. A new manager means last season's roles, minutes and set-piece duties do not automatically carry over.
Back-three specialist. Verified in Forest pre-season: Glasner's first XI (v Notts County, 18 Jul 2026) was a 3-4-2-1 with a back three, two attacking wing-backs, a double pivot and two No.10s behind a lone striker. At Crystal Palace his side attacked at the fastest average speed in the Premier League (2.00 m/s vs Forest's 1.80 m/s under Pereira) - vertical, transition-heavy, quick to get the ball forward rather than long possession build-up. Heavy set-piece emphasis: analysis of his Palace side put roughly a third of their goals down to set plays, with a structured corner routine (six bodies in the box, two on the edge, rest-defence behind). System is wing-back dependent - he has previously built around an attacking wing-back (Kostic at Frankfurt) and Forest have been reported as still shopping for a right-back. He has historically switched between a back three and a back four in-game, so the shape is not rigid.
Usual shape: 3-4-2-1
Summer transfers
In
| Player | Pos | From | Fee | Expected role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xaver Schlager | CM | RB Leipzig | Free transfer | Glasner's first signing, announced 23 July 2026 on a reported two-year deal. Austrian international, ball-winning central midfielder - direct competition for Ryan Yates in the 3-4-2-1 double pivot and a partial replacement for the sold Elliot Anderson. |
| Ousmane Diomande | CB | Sporting CP | Initial EUR 40m (approx GBP 34m) rising to EUR 45m plus 10% sell-on - AGREED 30 Jul 2026, official announcement still pending as of asOf date | Reported as Glasner's priority target (he wanted him at Palace in 2025). Expected to start as the right-sided centre-back in the back three alongside Milenkovic and Murillo. Could feature in the 31 July friendly against his former club. |
| Gustavo Sa | AM | Famalicao | Reported EUR 20m | Reported buy-to-loan: signed by Forest and expected to go straight out on loan to Olympiacos (same ownership group) for 2026/27. FPL-irrelevant if the loan completes. Listed as done on Transfermarkt but no club confirmation found. |
| Grady McDonnell | CM | Club Brugge | Free transfer | Academy/development signing (23 June 2026), age 18. Squad-number 60. Not an FPL factor. |
| Kasen Brown | LB | Manchester City | Free transfer | Academy/development signing (3 July 2026). Not an FPL factor. |
| Boyd Fraser | CM | Heart of Midlothian | Undisclosed | Academy/development signing (6 July 2026). Not an FPL factor. |
| Mason Ayre | AM | Glentoran | Undisclosed | Academy/development signing (7 July 2026). Not an FPL factor. |
| Blaine McClure | CM | Rangers | Undisclosed | Academy/development signing (7 July 2026). Not an FPL factor. |
| Arnaud Kalimuendo | ST | Eintracht Frankfurt | Loan return (loan ended 30 June 2026) | Back at the City Ground after a season on loan in Germany. Scored in the Notts County and Blackburn friendlies - live contender in a crowded striker group with Igor Jesus, Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi. |
| Tyler Bindon | CB | Sheffield United | Loan return (loan ended 30 June 2026) | Back-up centre-back option (squad number 6). Pushed further down the pecking order by the Diomande deal. |
| Omar Richards | LB | Rio Ave | Loan return (loan ended 30 June 2026) | Squad left-back/left wing-back cover behind Aina, Williams and Netz. |
| David Carmo | CB | Real Oviedo | Loan return (loan ended 30 June 2026) | Returned from loan and was immediately sold to Olympiacos on 30 June 2026 - no longer at the club. |
Out
| Player | Pos | To | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elliot Anderson | CM | Manchester City | GBP 116m (reported EUR 135m) |
| David Carmo | CB | Olympiacos | Undisclosed (reported approx EUR 9m) |
| Stefan Ortega | GK | Olympiacos | Free transfer |
| Angus Gunn | GK | San Jose Earthquakes | Free transfer |
| Willy Boly | CB | Released (no club) | Released |
| Jota Silva | LW | Olympiacos | Season-long loan |
| Gustavo Sa | AM | Olympiacos | Loan (reported, immediately after signing) |
| Lorenzo Lucca | ST | Napoli | End of loan (30 June 2026) |
| Joe Gardner | ST | Falkirk | Undisclosed |
Current injuries
| Player | Issue | Expected return |
|---|---|---|
| Murillo | Hamstring | Early August 2026 (FotMob). Glasner said in July he is back doing rehab sessions with intensity being increased but not yet in full training. Likely but not certain for GW1 on 22 Aug. |
| Callum Hudson-Odoi | Muscle/thigh - the injury required surgery and ended his 2025/26 season early | Early August 2026 (FotMob) |
| Nicolo Savona | Knee | Early August 2026 (FotMob) |
| Ola Aina | Knock - listed as doubtful by FotMob | Unclear - he started the 18 July friendly as a wing-back, so this flag may be stale or may post-date that game |
Injury picture as of 30 July 2026 — availability moves fast in pre-season, so confirm against official team news.
Expected XI & selection battles
Formation: 3-4-2-1
- GK Matz Sels
- CB Jair Cunha
- CB Nikola Milenkovic
- CB Morato
- WB Neco Williams
- CM Ryan Yates
- CM James McAtee
- WB Ola Aina
- AM Omari Hutchinson
- AM Morgan Gibbs-White
- ST Igor Jesus
Battles to watch
- This XI is Glasner's actual first Forest team sheet (v Notts County, 18 July 2026): Sels behind a back three of Jair Cunha, Milenkovic and Morato, with Aina and Neco Williams as the wing-backs, Yates captaining, and Hutchinson, McAtee and Gibbs-White supporting Igor Jesus. Sources did not state which wing-back played left and which played right.
- Back three, right side: Ousmane Diomande (deal agreed 30 July, EUR 40m) is reported as arriving specifically to play right centre-back in the three, which would displace Jair Cunha or Zach Abbott.
- Back three, left side: Murillo is Forest's best defender and should reclaim a starting slot from Morato once his hamstring clears - Morato started only because Murillo was injured.
- Striker: Igor Jesus started and scored in all three friendlies, but Kalimuendo (2 goals), Awoniyi (1) and Chris Wood (penalty taker, returned late from the World Cup) all compete for the single centre-forward slot.
- Double pivot: Ryan Yates vs new signing Xaver Schlager vs Ibrahim Sangare vs Nicolas Dominguez, with James McAtee able to play either the deeper role or one of the two No.10 slots.
- The two No.10 slots: Gibbs-White looks nailed on for one; the second is contested by Hutchinson, McAtee, Dan Ndoye and a returning Hudson-Odoi.
- Dan Ndoye missed the entire Portugal training camp after the 2026 World Cup, so he is behind on fitness for GW1 - and an orthodox wide forward has no natural home in a 3-4-2-1.
- Wing-back is the least settled area: Neco Williams is being chased by Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle, Aina is carrying a knock, and Forest are reported to still be hunting a right-back. Luca Netz and Omar Richards are the standing left-side alternatives.
- Goalkeeper: Matz Sels started the first friendly and is first choice, with only John Victor behind him after Ortega and Gunn both left.
Set-piece takers
FPL winners & losers
Research calls from the sources below, not model output — the model's numbers for these players are on predicted points.
Key uncertainties
The honest list — what this guide could not pin down as of 30 July 2026. Any of these can change the FPL picture before Gameweek 1:
- Ousmane Diomande (Sporting CP, EUR 40m rising to EUR 45m) was reported on 30 July 2026 as agreed with only payment details outstanding, but no official club announcement was found as of this file's asOf date - treat as pending, not done.
- Gustavo Sa (Famalicao, reported EUR 20m) is listed as a completed 26/27 arrival by Transfermarkt but was still being described as 'close' by news sources on 29 July, and the reported structure is a buy-to-loan straight to Olympiacos - so he may never be an FPL-relevant Forest player.
- Forest are reported (Sky/OneFootball, 30 July) to still want four more players: another midfielder, a striker, a right-back and a centre-back. The GW1 XI is therefore genuinely unsettled, particularly at wing-back and striker.
- Morgan Gibbs-White's future: Forest are publicly refusing to sell, but Aston Villa (reported ready to spend big), Arsenal and PSG have all been linked in 2026. Spurs triggered a GBP 60m release clause in 2025 and Forest blocked it. He started pre-season for Glasner.
- Neco Williams is being chased by Manchester United (reportedly his preferred destination), Tottenham and Newcastle, with Forest trying to tie him to a new contract. Losing him would gut the most FPL-attractive position in Glasner's system.
- Murillo: FotMob gives an 'early August 2026' return from a hamstring problem, but Glasner's own July comments described him as still in rehab with intensity only being increased - GW1 (22 Aug) availability is probable, not confirmed. He has also been linked with Liverpool.
- Ola Aina is flagged as a doubt ('knock') on FotMob yet started the 18 July friendly at wing-back - the two sources conflict and the flag may be stale.
- Sources do not state which of Aina and Williams plays left wing-back and which plays right, so the side allocation in expectedXI is unverified.
- Set-piece conflict: Fantasy Football Scout lists Gibbs-White (then Murillo) on direct free-kicks and Hutchinson/Williams/Ndoye on corners, last verified in GW31 of 2025/26. Onside Arena still lists Hudson-Odoi on free-kicks and Elliot Anderson on corners - Anderson has been sold, so that source is stale. No 2026/27 set-piece data from a match under Glasner exists yet.
- Departure of Vitor Pereira: Wikipedia describes it as the club exercising a mutual break clause; several outlets describe him as sacked. Both agree he left in late June / early July 2026 after a 16th-place finish and a Europa League semi-final run.
- First-fixture date: Wikipedia's season page says the first match is 21 August 2026, but fixture listings and beat reporting both have Forest hosting Leeds United at the City Ground on Saturday 22 August 2026 (14:00).
- The 2026 World Cup compressed pre-season for Forest's internationals - Ndoye missed the whole Portugal camp and Chris Wood joined it late (23 July). Expect reduced GW1 minutes for late returners generally.
- Glasner's Forest formation is verified only from three pre-season friendlies. He has historically alternated between a back three and a back four in-game, so the 3-4-2-1 should be treated as the base shape rather than a guarantee.
- Only two senior goalkeepers remain (Sels, John Victor) after Ortega and Gunn left, so Sels' minutes look secure barring a late signing.
- Forest are a net seller so far this window (+GBP 116m), and the Anderson sale removes their highest-volume central midfielder - the shape of the midfield after further recruitment is the biggest single unknown.
- Official FPL 2026/27 data corroborates the set-piece picture (pens Wood > Gibbs-White > Igor Jesus; direct free-kicks Gibbs-White > Murillo > Neco Williams > Hudson-Odoi; corners Hutchinson > Neco Williams > Bakwa) and does NOT support the Onside Arena listing of Hudson-Odoi as primary free-kick taker. None of this has been tested under Glasner.
Sources
- Nottingham Forest - Transfers 26/27 (Transfermarkt) — 2026-07-30
- Nottingham Forest to complete Ousmane Diomande transfer in the coming hours (OneFootball) — 2026-07-30
- Nottingham Forest squad, coach and injuries (FotMob) — 2026-07-30
- Nottingham Forest fixtures (FotMob) - Sporting CP 31 Jul, Leverkusen 12 Aug, Brest 16 Aug, Leeds (H) 22 Aug — 2026-07-30
- Fantasy Premier League set-piece takers (Fantasy Football Scout) — 2026-07-30
- Premier League set-piece takers 2026/27 (Onside Arena) - conflicting/stale Forest entries — 2026-07-30
A point-in-time research snapshot compiled 30 July 2026, showing the six most recent of the sources the research drew on. It does not update in real time — line-ups, fitness and transfers can all move before the deadline, so always confirm against official team news. All 20 club guides are on team guides.
FPL is a free fantasy game — this is squad research, not betting advice.
Updated 13 August 2026, 07:21 UK · Source: Official FPL API