Fans celebrates as 2022 Steve Cooper signing is now heading back to Nottingham Forest

A Steve Cooper signing is now set to head back to Nottingham Forest – after his loan side decided against a permanent move.

The Welshman brought 21 new faces to the City Ground during that chaotic summer of 2022 – but not all turned out to be success stories, even those who arrived in the preceding January window.

A number of these signings have since been shipped out on loan – such as Omar Richards, Lewis O’Brien, Emmanuel Dennis and Josh Bowler – although another loanee is now set to return to Nottingham Forest and search for a new club…

Jonathan Panzo heading back to Nottingham Forest

According to Sacha Tavolieri, Standard Liege have decided not to keep Jonathan Panzo.

The Jupiler Pro League outfit had negotiated an option to buy the Englishman on a permanent basis at the end of the season if all went well.

However, Panzo – signed from Dijon in a £1.5m deal under Cooper in January 2022 – is now coming back to the City Ground, where he is then expected to find a new permanent home.

Tavolieri wrote: “Been told option to buy won’t be exercised. Panzo back to NFFC then searching for another club.”

The 23-year-old has made nine appearances in Belgium since moving to Standard Liege in January, following a tough loan spell at Cardiff in the first half of the campaign, where he made just four Championship appearances.

Nuno Espirito Santo set for clear out

Not only will Felipe, Harry Arter, Wayne Hennessey and Cheikhou Kouyate be leaving the City Ground this summer along with Panzo – according to the Telegraph – but Nuno Espirito Santo is set to wave goodbye to more faces.

The likes of Scott McKenna, Loic Mbe Soh and the aforementioned Bowler all find themselves out of contract this summer, and are also expected to depart permanently.

Furthermore, it comes after Orel Mangala admitted he hopes Lyon trigger their option to buy him on a permanent basis this summer, so the squad turnover at the City Ground this summer could be huge.

Having said that, it should free up a lot of room on the salary bill for Nottingham Forest to make some additions.