Nottingham Forest must now be kicking themselves over £15m transfer blunder in 2023
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Nottingham Forest have signed dozens of players since returning to the Premier League in 2022 with some more successful than others.
Given the number of players signed by Forest, it’s natural that the club have been linked with a host of other signings during their time in the Premier League.
One area that has proved problematic for Forest since reaching the Promised Land again has been between the posts and signing a top goalkeeper.
During the last transfer window, Forest tried a late raid on Liverpool to sign Caoimhin Kelleher but given the lack of time for a replacement to be sought, the answer was no.
Forest did land Carlos Miguel for £4 million but he’s only been back up so far and already it’s not really clear whether he will ever be considered the number one at the City Ground.
Several goalkeepers have worn the gloves for Forest in the Premier League and now one glaringly obvious error from 2023 is evident.
Nottingham Forest decision over Dean Henderson looks like a blunder
Henderson signed for Forest on loan during the summer of 2022, with Steve Cooper making him a top target after Brice Samba made the decision to head back to France with Lens.
Forest wanted to sign the player on a permanent basis but Manchester United played hardball and took forever to make a decision over whether to sell him or not.
In the end, Forest had to make a decision on Henderson. As he’d picked up a thigh injury that ended his campaign early at the City Ground, the Reds chose to look elsewhere.
Turner was signed, along with Odysseas Vlachodimos and given that neither stopper managed to produce the goods, the club should have taken the chance on Henderson.
The 26-year-old cost Palace just £15 million and that would have represented brilliant value for money for a player who is an international goalkeeper.
Henderson got the chance to prove himself for England on Sunday night as Lee Carsley dropped Jordan Pickford to give the former Forest man a chance against Finland in the Nations League.
England won the game 3-1 and Henderson was praised by the I-News for his efforts. They wrote: “Made a couple of fine saves when called upon on his first senior start for his country.”
Henderson fondly remembered for time at Forest
It was such a shame when Henderson tore his thigh in February 2023 to see his season curtailed and a long road to recovery begin for the goalkeeper.
Originally, it was hoped he wouldn’t be out for too long. However, surgery was required and after first signing for Crystal Palace, he picked up a small reoccurrence of the problem.
Henderson produced two of the finest goalkeeping performances since Forest returned to the Premier League – and possibly of all time!
First, he led Forest to a 1-0 win over Liverpool at the City Ground and his heroics included a remarkable save from Virgil van Dijk when it looked like the Dutchman would equalise in stoppage time.
Then just prior to his injury, he went and saved a penalty during the shootout to help Forest reach the Carabao Cup semi-final for the first time in a number of years.
At £15 million, Henderson would have been worth the risk even if the thigh injury had proved to hamper his career and rob him of a continued run in a starting eleven somewhere.
As it happens, he’s now playing regularly for Palace and having been given a shot at the England team, he will now fancy one day being considered as the regular goalkeeper for the national team.
Forest must be seriously kicking themselves and had Henderson been signed he could have been the club’s number one for many years to come.
