Nottinghamshire

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest will fight to keep Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson, with Vitor Pereira insisting they need to continue to build.

The duo will be in-demand this summer with Manchester City and Manchester United interested in England midfielder Anderson.

Gibbs-White only signed a new three-year deal last summer - after Tottenham came in for him - while Murillo penned a one-year extension to 2029 at the weekend.

But after finishing 16th in the Premier League, Pereira outlined his views about the summer.

He said: "They are top players and they deserve the top of the world.

"But I believe if we want to compete for different goals, we need to keep the best players.

"If not, if you change every season, it is difficult to be consistent and difficult to build something stronger.

"We cannot control the market, of course, but I think we are aligned; what I think and what the club thinks is to try to keep most of them and to try to control the market."

The Portuguese was unhappy with Wolves' transfer business last summer while he was at Molineux, believing the club moved too slowly and did not land his top targets.

This time, Pereira wants Forest to act quickly in the window to avoid suffering another season of struggle.

He said: "I believe we have a good squad and have good players. We need to keep most of them and just add competition here and there.

"Let's prepare ourselves to be ready from the beginning. If not, you start losing before you start the season.

"If you start without a squad, start with a lot of players missing, a lot of positions missing and important players [missing] and you start the first games without being prepared, it is a disaster.

"This league punishes you if you make mistakes."

We asked for your views as Nottingham Forest ended their season with a draw against Bournemouth.

Here are some of your comments:

Kris: This had an end-of-season feel to it, not quite going through the motions, but a few players seemed to have an eye on the World Cup. Morgan Gibbs-White made his point, but it's one that will fall on deaf ears. The focus for us now has to be a settled pre-season and minimal rebuild before another year of Premier League football.

David: If we can keep the squad together for next season, Champions League is possible!

Paul: Good, solid Premier League performance. Crazy season - fun but exhausting in Europe, largely stressful and disappointing in the league, but only nine points off Europe again after all. Need some stability. If we keep the bulk core of the team and add a couple of new players, including a striker, we'll be in the Champions League places soon enough! Up the Reds!

Clive: Our form at the end of the season is a true reflection of our strengths and abilities. No surprise, considering Vitor and Nuno are similar managers. However, we need to avoid the madness of the changes in between. Nuno embarrassed the owner with his statement, but ultimately, he was correct that Edu was the issue. Mr Marinakis has, I hope, taken to heart the difference between the Premier League and other leagues. We must keep as many players as possible, while wishing the best for those that make us a profit. Exploring the future with this team and manager has wonderful opportunities.

Andy: Well, that's it, another season over and now it's time to relax and get ready for the World Cup - and then we look to go again. If we can keep everyone together and bring in a couple of players to strengthen in certain areas - a keeper, full-back, centre-back and midfielders - we can get back in Europe. A Conference League finish will be great and a good cup run too.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Boss Vitor Pereira has called for stability at Nottingham Forest after their season of upheaval.

The 57-year-old replaced Sean Dyche in February to become Forest's fourth head coach of the season.

Nuno Espirito Santo was dismissed three games into the season, while Ange Postecoglou lasted just 39 days.

Pereira eventually guided Forest to safety with two games to spare, having also taken them to the Europa League semi-finals, but wants a calmer season at the City Ground next term.

"We need stability. In my opinion, now we have created the true spirit. We have friendship and we feel confidence in each other. They believe in the staff and we believe in the players," Pereira said.

"They feel we are here to help them. We are not here to criticise. When they are not at their best level, we are here to try to help them to be at their best level.

"With tactical work, creating the spirit to fight and to play. With time, we can be stronger next season.

"When I say it is important to have the players to work and to prepare for the first games in the league, that is what I believe."

Nottingham Forest are preparing a move for 23-year-old English midfielder Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from all 10 fixtures on the final day of the Premier League season.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Tottenham 1-0 Everton

• West Ham United 3-0 Leeds United

• Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal

• Brighton 0-3 Manchester United

Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira, speaking to Sky Sports: "It is an honour, it is a privilege to be the manager. This is a group with strong character. Today was difficult, we faced a strong team and the weather is impossible.

"In the end, one point is a pity because if we win we can get to another position in the table. In the end I think the result is fine.

"I used to say that the way we start the season is very important, we must work in the pre-season with a squad to prepare the first games. I believe that we have a lot of things to improve. We just need time together. We play a lot of games without preparing the games in the proper way, without time to work together.

"Next season we will have more time. I believe we can build something stronger.

"This season was very, very tight in terms of the battle of relegation. We did well, we competed, we went in a semi-final. It is not easy with the two competitions, struggling in one and trying to move forward in another.

"In the end, I am proud. We are proud of our work, of our supporters. I believe that next season we can go and do good things."

On Elliott Anderson's future: "I don't have the answer. If you ask me if he deserves the best clubs in the world, he deserves. He has a lot of quality, he is a talent. But he is our player and I am very happy with him.

"The market is the market, I cannot predict the market. I know we want to keep the same players, to bring two or three players to help us balance the squad. In the end, we'll see."

Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, speaking to Sky Sports: "I thought the first half was really positive. We just didn't really take that into the second half. I think the heat played into it.

"It's been a really long season, a difficult season, but I'm really proud of the way the boys ended it.

"It is so important how we finished the season. With all the managerial changes we've had this season, credit to the boys, credit to the manager coming in and showing his belief to the players. We pulled through."

On not making the England squad: "It is what it is. I know myself I have done more than enough to be in the squad. I just got on the wrong side of someone's opinion. I have been on the wrong side of people's opinions throughout my career so I'm only going to bounce back."

"We had a good conversation. I respect him for calling me and telling the news. I agreed with what he had to say. I'm glad the season is behind us now, I'm going to concentrate on the summer."

Did you know?

• Nottingham Forest are one of just three sides that didn't lose a single Premier League game when scoring first in 2025-26 campaign, alongside Manchester United and Sunderland.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Only time will tell if Thomas Tuchel's decision to leave Morgan Gibbs-White at home for the World Cup is the right one.

The Nottingham Forest playmaker and the City Ground clearly think it was the wrong one after the best and most consistent season of the 26-year-old's career.

His goal against Bournemouth underlined his quality and the celebration was pointed while, on the terraces, the Forest fans made their feelings clear in their support for Gibbs-White and distain for Tuchel.

Gibbs-White's 15 Premier League goals this season leaves him as the second top English scorer in the top flight, only beaten by Ollie Watkins following the Aston Villa striker's double at Manchester City on the final day.

Number 10 rivals Phil Foden and Cole Palmer were also left out so there is no denying Tuchel's ruthlessness - the German has a pecking order - with Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze and Jude Bellingham given the central creative responsibility.

Eze has 12 goals - five of them coming in two north London derbies - while Rogers started every Villa game until being rested on the final day, with his influence tailing off in the second half of the season.

Gibbs-White, who has six senior caps, has every reason to feel aggrieved but it will only add fuel to the fire for next season.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know how you are feeling after Nottingham Forest ended their season with a draw against Bournemouth.

Get in touch with your views here

Come back to this page for a selection of your replies - reaction and analysis to follow shortly

Vitor Pereira makes two changes for Nottingham Forest's final game against Bournemouth.

Ibrahim Sangare returns in midfield to make his first start since the end of April in the 5-0 win at Sunderland.

Jair Cunha also returns to the side while Elliot Anderson makes his 50th appearance of the season for Forest.

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Jair Cunha, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams, Sangare, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson, I. Jesus, Wood.

Subs: Ortega; Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Abbott, Sillah.

Bournemouth are unchanged as they look to qualify for the Champions League ahead of Andoni Iraola's final game in charge.

The Cherries need results to go for them - Aston Villa to lose at Manchester City and Liverpool to beat Brentford - for sixth place to earn a Champions League place.

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Hill, Sensi, Smith, Truffert, Adams, Scott, Tavernier, Kroupi, Rayan, Evanilson.

Subs: Mandas, Cook, Toth, Diakite, Brooks, Unal, Kluivert, Adli, Gannon-Doak.

It is the last day of the Premier League, every side is in action this Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brighton v Manchester United - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

• Burnley v Wolves

• Crystal Palace v Arsenal - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Fulham v Newcastle

• Liverpool v Brentford

• Manchester City v Aston Villa

• Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth

• Sunderland v Chelsea

• Tottenham v Everton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• West Ham v Leeds - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Kick-off times 16:00 BST

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