Nottingham Forest Line Up Future Without Chris Wood as Striker Search Intensifies

Nottingham Forest are reportedly preparing for a future without veteran striker Chris Wood, as the club steps up its search for a new forward ahead of the 2025–26 campaign.

The season has proven challenging for both the Tricky Trees and their experienced centre-forward, with injuries severely limiting the impact of the 34-year-old. The New Zealand international, who has been a key attacking figure at the club, spent the majority of the season sidelined after undergoing knee surgery following an injury sustained in October.

His absence was strongly felt along the River Trent, with Forest struggling at times to replicate his physical presence, aerial dominance, and clinical finishing in the final third. Although he made a return earlier this month, the long layoff highlighted the need for greater depth and long-term planning in attack.

Club officials are now understood to be actively exploring striker options in the transfer market, with recruitment focused on finding a younger, more durable centre-forward capable of leading the line consistently across a demanding Premier League season.

While Wood’s experience and leadership remain valued within the squad, Forest are said to be assessing how best to balance short-term contributions with long-term squad evolution.

Sources close to the club suggest that recruitment staff have identified multiple targets across Europe, with an emphasis on forwards who combine physical strength with mobility—attributes seen as essential for the team’s tactical approach moving forward.

Despite the club’s planning, there is no immediate suggestion that Chris Wood will be pushed out this summer. However, his injury record and advancing age have naturally raised questions about how central he can remain to Forest’s long-term project.

The striker’s return has provided a morale boost, but his minutes are expected to be carefully managed as he rebuilds match fitness after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

For Nottingham Forest, the situation represents a familiar Premier League challenge: evolving a squad while remaining competitive. The club’s recruitment strategy now appears geared toward ensuring that reliance on a single experienced striker does not become a recurring issue.

As the summer window approaches, attention will intensify on who Forest bring in to potentially lead their attack into a new era—one that may gradually move beyond the influence of Chris Wood, even if not immediately without him.