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Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo now has plenty of options as he ponders his best Nottingham Forest team.
Winger Jota Silva became the Reds’ sixth summer signing on Thursday when he put pen to paper on a four-year contract. Out wide is an area of the pitch Nuno has been keen to strengthen ahead of the new Premier League season, so he will no doubt be delighted to have got this particular deal over the line.
Jota’s versatility means he is capable of operating in a few different roles. With Nuno keen to utilise various formations, we take a look at how the newest recruit could fit in.
Jota is comfortable on both flanks so can provide competition and cover for Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi. The Portugal international became a fans’ favourite at Vitoria Guimaraes for his ability to chip in with goals and assists from the flanks.
Forest could yet recruit another winger to ensure they have even more strength in depth out wide. But having players already capable of filling in on either side will certainly be beneficial for Nuno.
The Reds head coach wants the flexibility to deploy a few different systems in 2024/25. However, sticking with the 4-2-3-1 he frequently turned to last term does allow Morgan Gibbs-White to pick up his favoured No.10 role.
Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Richards; Sangare, Danilo; Jota, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.
The evidence from pre-season suggests Nuno wants to count on a three-man defence to some extent in the upcoming campaign. It is something he used to great effect at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and he has tried it out a few times in the friendlies so far.
Playing without a recognised striker didn’t really work in last week’s 1-0 defeat to Elche, when Forest started with the attacking trio of Elanga, Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi. But Jota can fill in as a wing-back, as well as up front, so could give Nuno the option to tweak the system slightly.
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