Sheffield United manager makes transfer comment on Nottingham Forest

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom has praised Nottingham Forest’s January transfer business ahead of their play-off semi-final clash on Saturday, with the 44-year-old speaking to the Yorkshire Post.

Steve Cooper had already managed to get a tune out of his side before the winter window opened, turning the Reds around following their abysmal start to the 2021/22 campaign under predecessor Chris Hughton.

During last year’s summer window, Hughton didn’t manage to get the majority of his signings through the door until after the start of the campaign, one factor that played a part in the ex-Brighton manager’s downfall at the City Ground.

In contrast to that, Forest moved early in January to recruit Keinan Davis and Steve Cook, with the latter joining from league rivals AFC Bournemouth on a permanent deal.

Their incoming business wasn’t finished there either, recruiting Richie Laryea to fill the wing-back area that needed depth and finishing their window with the additions of Jonathan Panzo and Sam Surridge.

Although Panzo has spent much of his time away from the senior squad since his arrival, Surridge has been crucial in the absence of loanee Davis and Lewis Grabban during the latter stages of this season in helping his new side to secure a top-six finish.

One man that was impressed with this business is upcoming opponent Heckingbottom, who said: “They’ve got obvious threats on the counter and down the right-hand side. They recruited really well in January, they made a lot of good signings.

“Although Steve (Cooper, the manager) had them playing really well in terms of how they set up, I think they came across a real settled way of playing which we see now.

“You can have a team who’s in good form but we’re playing a