Nottingham Forest have made some questionable decisions in the transfer market in recent years, significantly contributing to their recent PSR breach.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side received a four-point deduction following a breach and an overspend of £34.5 million for the 2022/23 financial year, exceeding the allowed losses of £61 million.
Signings like Jonjo Shelvey and Emmanuel Dennis have undoubtedly been disastrous. Dennis rejoined Watford on loan in January, the club from which the Reds originally signed the Nigerian forward for a whopping £20 million.
The club has been working to repair the damage caused by such additions, subsequently selling players like Orel Mangala and Brennan Johnson, whose transfers brought in over £75 million combined.
Despite the recent wave of departures from the City Ground, Nottingham Forest still employs several players who aren’t up to the required level. One of these players is set to leave permanently this summer following a loan move during the 2023/24 season.
Remo Freuler’s stats at Nottingham Forest
After joining the club for £7.6 million, midfielder Remo Freuler arrived in the East Midlands with high expectations following his successful stint in Serie A with Atalanta.
The Switzerland international, praised as the “conductor of the orchestra” by Il Giorno’s Fabrizio Carcano, was deployed at the base of the midfield by former boss Steve Cooper, aiming to dictate play for Nottingham Forest.
However, the pace of the English game proved too challenging for Freuler, and he struggled to make a positive impact during his 33 matches in the Garibaldi Red.
While he achieved an 80% pass completion rate in the Premier League last season, it wasn’t sufficient for him to secure another season with the Reds. Consequently, he joined Bologna on loan, a move that allowed him to return to his best form.
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| Top pass completion rate at Forest in the PL (2022/23) | |
|---|---|
| Player | Tally |
| Orel Mangala | 81% |
| Remo Freuler | 80% |
| Scott McKenna | 79% |
| Joe Worrall | 79% |
| Ryan Yates | 78% |
| Stats via FotMob | |
The loan stint included a £3.4 million buy option, which the Serie A club exercised, resulting in Freuler’s permanent return to Italy. He will even compete in Champions League football next season, as Bologna finished in the top four under Thiago Motta.
Despite the 32-year-old moving on to play in the top club competition in football, Nottingham Forest made the right decision in offloading him, saving a substantial amount in wages due to his permanent departure.
How much Remo Freuler earned at Nottingham Forest
When he arrived in the summer of 2022, the midfielder signed a three-year contract reportedly worth £40,000 per week, according to Capology.
During the 2022/23 season, his weekly earnings amounted to £2.1 million. This season, Bologna has been covering his entire wage during his temporary stint in Italy.
The midfielder, criticized for making “shocking” mistakes by Italian journalist Matteo Bonetti, cost the club £9.7 million during his single season at the City Ground, significantly contributing to Nottingham Forest’s financial troubles.
While he has the potential to succeed in Serie A, he proved to be unsuitable for the Premier League, as evidenced by his exclusion from the squad in the final months of last season.
Although the club incurred a loss on his transfer, they still managed to receive a fee and reduce their wage bill, which will help the Reds avoid further PSR breaches in the coming months.
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