NOTTINGHAM FOREST could face another points deduction – unless they complete a major firesale in just 16 DAYS.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s team ended the season six points clear of relegation after their 2-1 final day win at Burnley.
That is despite the club failing with an appeal against their four-point punishment for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
Now they are set to make a number of changes to their squad ahead of a third-straight year in the top-flight with three senior players already getting released.
However, a new report states that Forest “must sell players before the profitability and sustainability rules deadline at the end of June to avoid breaching spending limits and risking a points deduction” next season.
The summer transfer window officially opens on June 14, and even though clubs can agree deals outside of it, transactions cannot be processed.
That means that the City Ground club will only have a 16 day period to offload and balance the books.
Accounts for the 2023/24 season must be submitted by 30 June and, under PSR, clubs can only lose a maximum of £105m over a three-year period.
And the i News now reports that “Forest will have to sell players to avoid a further breach” like last year.
Despite Brennan Johnson’s £47.5m move to Tottenham last year being part of the current accounts, “it is not yet enough”.
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That could lead to Nuno being without several of his star men for the start of pre-season with the chaos set to continue.
One of those who could depart is Morgan Gibbs-White.
The 24-year-old attacker scored six goals and produced eight assists to help them survive.
But speculation in March claimed that Arsenal were targeting Gibbs-White this summer.
Fellow winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, 23, could be another to attract interest.
The three capped England international finished the campaign with eight goals and a series of fine displays.
And Arsenal and Chelsea are both locked in a six-way tussle for Forest star Murillo.
The Brazilian defender was one of their better players this season following a £12m move from Corinthians last summer.
Murillo, 21, was on the radar of Man City, West Ham and Napoli before sealing his switch to the City Ground.
But the centre-back could soon be on the move due to Forest’s financial issues.
Meanwhile, Forest have announced that Felipe, Cheikhou Kouyate and Wayne Hennessey will all depart the club upon the expiration of their contracts this summer.
The trio all moved to the City Ground after they won promotion from the Championship under Steve Cooper but become free agents next month.
STAY in the know this summer with The Sun's transfer experts.
Man City and Newcastle are both targetting £60m rated Pedro Neto this summer, according to reports.
Aston Villa are reportedly close to resigning Ross Barkley on a permandent basis.
Arsenal ‘want to sign a new striker BEFORE their pre-season tour’.
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