Nottingham Forest stay in the fight for a top-five spot and a Champions League ticket.
Chris Sutton has warned Nottingham Forest about their heavy reliance on Morgan Gibbs-White and the challenges they will face both in the summer transfer window and if they secure Champions League qualification next season.
Forest remain on track for a top-four finish after their crucial 1-0 victory over Manchester City, which solidified their third-place position and extended their lead over fifth place to four points. Gibbs-White played a key role in the win, providing the assist for Callum Hudson-Odoi’s goal. He has become a vital figure in Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad.
His influence at Forest has drawn comparisons to Jude Bellingham’s role at Real Madrid and Phil Foden’s impact at Manchester City. However, Sutton believes the club must strengthen their squad to avoid struggles similar to those of Aston Villa and Newcastle.
Speaking on BBC 5Live’s Monday Night Club, Sutton, a Premier League winner with Blackburn in 1995, emphasized the importance of squad depth.
“Nottingham Forest rely heavily on their core players,” he said. “If they qualify for the Champions League, their biggest challenge will be keeping hold of key players like Gibbs-White. But they’ll also need reinforcements.
“Aston Villa have been stretched this season, and we saw the same with Newcastle before them. Forest need greater depth if they want to compete at the highest level.
“Bellingham and Foden have top-quality replacements when needed. Forest don’t have that luxury with Gibbs-White.”
Villa surprised many by finishing in the top four last season, but while they are progressing in the Champions League, they now sit eighth in the Premier League and face a battle to qualify again. Newcastle, who secured fourth place in 2023, dropped to seventh the following season, highlighting the difficulty of sustaining success.
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