Fifth budget-GK option. Other choices edge out at sub-£5m.
Projections are model output, not a guarantee. Prices firm on FPL's 26/27 reveal; the squad-projection layer re-runs every Friday from price-reveal day.
Forest's catastrophic 25/26 — three managers, one survival
Nottingham Forest finished 16th in 2025/26 with 44 points — survival secured through a chaotic three-manager carousel (Nuno → Postecoglou → Dyche → Pereira returning mid-season). The mid-season Pereira appointment stabilised the squad; he enters 26/27 with his first full pre-season. For Fantasy Premier League managers, Forest is a fade-by-default club: manager instability through 25/26 makes asset confidence fragile, and even Pereira's system is largely unproven at PL level.
Chris Wood — the only nailed Forest FPL pick
Chris Wood (projected £6.5-7.0m) is Forest's lead striker and the only Forest asset with a credible FPL case for 26/27. His 24/25 season delivered 20 PL goals before he was rotated; the 25/26 chaos cut his output but he remains the nailed penalty taker and No. 9. At £6.5-7m he is a defensible 4th forward — the Pereira system stabilisation should restore some of his 24/25 form.
Morgan Gibbs-White (£8.0m) takes direct free kicks and corners. He is the budget-mid alternative if you prefer the playmaker role. Hudson-Odoi and Elliot Anderson are mid-bracket options but neither has a strong xGI case for 26/27.
Forest's defensive picks: Murillo, Sels
Murillo (£5.5m) was a 25/26 standout centre-back — 18 bonus and 1.05 Defensive Contribution points per start under the 25/26 scoring tweak. He is the cleanest sub-£5.5m centre-back pick if Pereira keeps him in the regular XI. Matz Sels (£4.5m) is the budget goalkeeper option — competes with Roefs (Sunderland) and Verbruggen (Brighton) in the budget-GK bracket.
The three-manager carousel in 25/26 affected set-piece routines; the Pereira-era set-piece coach continuity is the open question. Verify in pre-season before locking in Murillo at £5.0m.
Forest's 26/27 ownership angle
Forest are 6/1 for relegation — mid-table expectation but the manager carousel risk is real. The recommended exposure: Wood + Murillo is the cleanest "double Forest" template. No premium Forest picks. Captain no Forest asset.
The opening 5 fixture difficulty will determine whether Wood and Murillo stay in your squad. If Forest draw favourable home fixtures in GW1-5, the budget pair is defensible. Otherwise fade Forest entirely until the first international break.
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Frequently Asked Questions
At £6.5-7m, Wood is a defensible 4th forward — nailed Forest penalty taker, 20 PL goal pedigree from 24/25. The Pereira system stabilisation should restore some of his 24/25 form. Pickable in any 4-forward template.
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