Last night’s second consecutive home defeat to Leeds United was evidence of the magnitude of the work Oliver Glasner has on his hands at Nottingham Forest.
The Austrian has been tipped by many to be an instant success at the City Ground, but the supporters will need to be patient if they are to reap the rewards of the manager’s ability.
Liam Delap has agreed a club-record £45m deal to join the Reds, with the Chelsea man looking to add a new dimension to the club’s current lacklustre attacking department.
However, despite the backing shown by Evangelos Marinakis this summer, added reinforcements are undoubtedly needed if Glasner is to be a success in the East Midlands.
How Forest’s biggest issue could hinder Glasner in 2026/27
It’s no secret that Glasner has full faith in his 3-4-2-1 system as seen from his time at Crystal Palace, but such a philosophy takes time to develop and become second nature for the players.
The Austrian has previously taken extended periods to impress at his former clubs, having won just one of his first seven games at Selhurst Park, whilst failing to win any of his first eight at Frankfurt.
However, such a system demands energetic wing-backs who can cover at both ends of the pitch – something which currently isn’t available to the 51-year-old at the City Ground.
The lack of suitability was evident in Tuesday’s defeat to Leeds, as Neco Williams was caught out of position in transition, leading to compatriot Dan James slotting home for the opener.
Ola Aina, who started the game at right-wing-back, was replaced after just an hour of the defeat, with his fitness and ability to operate in such a role once again coming under fire.
Daniel Munoz was a prime example of what was needed in Glasner’s system, as the Colombian registered nine goal contributions last term, whilst being strong defensively with his tally of 2.8 tackles per 90.
|
Daniel Muñoz – PL stats (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Tally |
|
Games played |
29 |
|
Goals & assists |
7 |
|
Pass accuracy |
80% |
|
Chances created |
1.1 |
|
Ground duels won |
5.2 |
|
Tackles made |
2.8 |
|
Clearances made |
3.6 |
|
Defensive contributions |
7.4 |
The manager has constantly downplayed the need for reinforcements this summer, but if he is to be a success in his current role, it’s vital he makes his true feelings known about the need for wing-backs.
How Glasner can land his next Munoz at Forest
All throughout the summer window, Forest have been linked with various moves for a new wing-back, but with less than a week to go until the window closes, no new arrival has yet been confirmed.
The likes of Dodo, Givairo Read and Jacob Murphy have all appeared on the club’s radar, but all of the aforementioned deals have quietly evaporated in recent times.
However, it appears a new name has emerged out of nowhere, with Celta Vigo star Javi Rueda seemingly the player chosen to operate in such a role.
It’s been reported in Spain that Glasner’s men are now finalising the last details of a deal for the Spaniard, who came through Real Madrid’s academy.
He claims that a deal for the 24-year-old is a permanent one, but will be for less than the €30m (£25m) release clause within his current contract at the LaLiga side.
Many Reds supporters may be unfamiliar with Rueda and his quality, but the Spaniard has become one of LaLiga’s most-threatening wing-backs – subsequently featuring in a back five last season.
His stats from the 2025/26 campaign showcase his talent at both ends of the pitch and demonstrate how he can be the manager’s next version of Munoz.
The Celta Vigo star featured 26 times in Spain’s top-flight this term, and ended his first senior campaign in such a division with two goals and six assists.
Such a tally was the third-highest of any full-back in the division, subsequently highlighting his tremendous ability within attacking areas of the pitch.
He also managed to complete 1.4 successful dribbles and registered 0.5 chances created per 90 – with both of the aforementioned tallies placing him in the top 20% of wing-backs in Europe’s top-five leagues.
However, despite his impressive nature at the top end of the pitch, Rueda also showcased his impressive ability to be in the right place to stop the opposition in defensive areas.
The 24-year-old managed to make 1.4 interceptions per 90 in LaLiga last term, whilst only being dribbled past eight times across his 26 league games last season.
Like his numbers in possession, Rueda ranked highly amongst others in his position – subsequently bettering 90% of other wing-backs in the aforementioned departments.
Whilst it’s unclear how much Forest have agreed to pay for the defender, his stats showcase that he could well be the perfect option for Glasner’s demanding 3-4-2-1 system.
His figures certainly make for good reading, and there’s no reason why the Spaniard can’t have a similar impact to that of Munoz during his time working under the Austrian.
