Anthony Elanga of Nottingham Forest is under pressure from Dan Burn of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest at St. James's Park in Newcastle, on December 26, 2023. (Photo by Jon Hobley | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Nottingham Forest loaned several players out for the 2023/24 campaign and now one of them is set to return to the club.
Forest signed 13 players during the summer of 2023 and naturally, that shunted several players down the pecking order.
With Forest boasting a Premier League status, it’s allowed them to get several players out on loan domestically.
Others have gone on loan to clubs overseas and there have been some successful loan spells for Forest players over the past 12 months.
Now, it’s been claimed that one player will be reporting back to pre-season training at the City Ground when it commences next month.
Omar Richards to return to Nottingham Forest
The Reds allowed Omar Richards to go out on loan for the 2023/24 campaign after he failed to prove his fitness in pre-season.
It was imperative that Richards played some games after missing out on 2022/23 with a hairline fracture of the shin and a hernia.
Richards signed for Forest for £8.5 million from Bayern Munich and he’s yet to make a first-team appearance for the Reds.
Last season, he went to Olympiacos and helped them win the UEFA Conference League; becoming the first Greek to win a European trophy.
Now, according to journalist Kostas Lianos, Richards will head back to Forest with Evangelos Marinakis wanting a different left-back at Olympiacos.
The 26-year-old has made 15 appearances for the Greek outfit and that will do his confidence good moving forward.
Nuno Espirito Santo should look at Richards in pre-season
With Forest in short supply at left-back, it makes perfect sense to have a look at Richards in pre-season.
The Reds have Ola Aina who has signed a new one-year deal with the club and Harry Toffolo as their left-back options.
However, Aina might be needed at right-back next season and that could open the door for Richards at left-back.
The player will be desperate to prove himself and he will be seriously upset at how his Forest career has gone so far.
Richards could now get the opportunity to impress Espirito Santo and it makes perfect sense to have a look in pre-season.
