Amid all of the excitement at Nottingham Forest during pre-season, Saturday’s defeat to Leeds United has highlighted the work Oliver Glasner needs to oversee at the City Ground.

The Austrian has been tasked with leading the Reds to silverware, but it’s safe to say time will be needed if he is to match the demands of the hierarchy in the East Midlands.

The Reds showcased glimpses of quality throughout the opening day encounter, but ultimately, they fell short with a lack of quality within the final third of the pitch.

Such an outing once again highlighted one of the biggest issues within the senior ranks and reinforced the need for additional signings before the window slams shut.

Why Forest's loss against Leeds highlights the need for a striker

As has been the case for the majority of the summer transfer window, Forest have been on the hunt to land added attacking reinforcements - but so far to no avail.

Igor Jesus started the clash against Leeds as Glasner’s main centre-forward, but as he did many times last season, he failed to produce a display worth shouting about.

The Brazilian featured for the entirety of the contest against Daniel Farke’s side, but could only complete 78% of the passes he attempted, whilst placing just one of his three shots on target.

He also only managed to win 59% of his aerial battles as the Reds played a direct style, but such a style certainly doesn’t suit the 25-year-old’s skillset.

Chris Wood was brought on to try and find a late goal for Glasner’s men, but he too struggled to offer the desired impact in front of goal during the defeat.

The New Zealand international snatched at his own key effort in front of goal, with the 34-year-old starting to show signs that he’s unable to cope with the demands of the Premier League.

Taiwo Awoniyi’s departure has opened up a space within the final third for the hierarchy to improve the squad, but time is certainly running out to land an adequate addition.

How Nottingham Forest can secure a bigger signing than Delap

In an attempt to bolster the forward line, Forest have been credited with an interest in Chelsea striker Liam Delap over recent days - but no bid has yet been lodged.

The 23-year-old struggled to settle into life at Stamford Bridge last season after joining from Ipswich Town - which has seen the Englishman be told he’s free to leave.

However, any deal could cost any interested party a pretty penny this window, as Xabi Alonso’s men are said to want at least £40m to sanction a potential sale.

He’s not the only player who’s appeared on their shortlist as of late, with Crystal Palace right-back Daniel Muñoz emerging as a late transfer target.

It’s been reported by Football Insider that Glasner is said to be preparing an offer to secure a reunion with the Colombian international after their time together at Selhurst Park.

The report states that Everton and Tottenham Hotspur are also keen to secure a deal for the 30-year-old, which could see a huge battle to secure his signature.

A move for the talented defender could well be on the cards before the September 1st deadline, with Pierre Sage’s men said to be demanding £25m to offload him.

Whilst Munoz operates in a different role to that of Delap, his experience operating in Glasner’s system could make him an instant hit and one who could make a huge impact on the club’s hopes of success.

His stats from his final season featuring under the Austrian showcase his quality and demonstrate why he could make a huge difference in the manager’s system.

Munoz managed to create 0.3 big chances per 90 in the Premier League last season, with such a figure placing him in the top 13% of all defenders in Europe’s top-five leagues.

Such a figure showcases his phenomenal ability to provide endless opportunities in the final third - something which was lacking during Saturday’s defeat against Leeds.

He also managed to register an impressive tally of 1.1 shots per 90 last term, subsequently placing him in the top 15% of all defenders in England’s top-flight.

Even without the ball, Munoz showcased he’s more than capable of being a valuable asset in the manager’s system, which saw him make 2.8 tackles per 90 in 2025/26.

The aforementioned figure also ranked him in the top 15% of players in his position, which could see him thrive at both ends of the pitch in the East Midlands.

£25m for a player of his proven quality could be an excellent piece of business for the Reds this summer In their ambitions of being a success in the years ahead.

Delap is still a viable transfer option before the end of the transfer window, but Munoz’s proven quality in such a division would make him a much more impactful addition.