Just a few days after the capture of ex-Donny midfielder Simon Gillett was confirmed (who will wear the number 4 shirt), Forest have confirmed that Daniel Ayala has signed from Norwich City on a season-long loan, and Jamaal Lascelles has penned a new four-year deal, thereby avoiding a repeat of the (necessary but unfortunate) sale of Patrick Bamford.

Ayala is something of a coup; according to the Evening Post’s Paul Taylor, the deal had fallen through as Ayala didn’t want to go on loan, but Sean O’Driscoll persuaded the youngster. Good work gaffer! Obviously tying down Lascelles is a real coup, especially with Premier League interest coming from the north London area.

Rumours abound linking us with West Bromwich’s Irish centre-forward Simon Cox, but that is said to be far from a done deal; WBA’s capture of Markus Rosenburg means they are listening to offers for Cox, but there are other clubs interested.