“Now in his own class after summer exist” Nuno Espirito Santos informed Player who left City Ground this Summer is doing wonders more than any other summer transfer, also outdoing Johnson so far this season.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s team has delivered some remarkable results, including a win away at Liverpool and draws against Brighton and Chelsea on the road.
Nottingham Forest were highly active during the summer transfer window, with owner Evangelos Marinakis providing full support. This has translated into some outstanding performances in the early stages of the 2024/25 season.
Chris Wood has caught the attention of pundit Tony Cascarino, who praised him as one of the best strikers in the Premier League.
However, one player who left Forest at the end of last season is making waves at his new club.
Nuno Tavares excelling beyond any full-back in world football
After his loan spell ended, Nuno Tavares returned to Arsenal following the 2023/24 season with Forest. His time at the City Ground was not particularly memorable, with just 12 appearances and 665 minutes of football.
Now, he has moved to Serie A with Lazio, where he’s thriving. According to CIES Football, Tavares, valued at £8m, is currently leading all full-backs worldwide in successful take-ons.
The Portuguese left-back has made a strong impression in Italy, featuring in five Serie A matches and contributing five assists. Notably, he provided two assists in his debut for Lazio against AC Milan.
Ola Aina and Alex Moreno have impressed as Nuno Tavares’ replacements
While Tavares is shining in Italy, Forest fans have been impressed by Ola Aina, who has stepped up as a versatile option, playing at both left-back and right-back. Aina has started every Premier League game this season, with seven appearances so far.
Although Aina hasn’t matched Tavares’ attacking contributions, Forest are in advanced contract talks to secure his future amid interest from Roma.
Meanwhile, Alex Moreno has also been used by Nuno Espirito Santo, allowing Aina to operate more on the right side for large parts of the season.