Nottingham Forest have been this season’s surprise package, and so too has one of their summer signings.

The Reds have enjoyed a remarkable transformation in recent months, and are currently flying high in second place in the Premier League table after an equally impressive festive period.

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Nikola Milenkovic has adapted seamlessly to the Premier League after seven years in Serie A[/caption]

After battling relegation in each of the last two campaigns, Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side are now on a five-game winning run which has seen them leapfrog Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.

With clean sheets in each of their last three victories, defensive stability has been central to Forest’s incredible turnaround this term.

Among the league’s most leaky defences last season, ranking fifth-worst in goals conceded, the City Ground outfit have let in just 19 goals so far, with only Liverpool and Arsenal conceding fewer.

And there is arguably one man who is responsible for Forest’s transformation here.

While the summer arrival of centre-back Nikola Milenkovic from Fiorentina for £12million may not have grabbed the headlines at first, it is now hard to look past the impact he is having at the City Ground.

So much so in fact, that former Nottingham Forest striker Garry Birtles believes that the Serbia international has been the Premier League’s best addition this season.

Appearing on talkSPORT Breakfast, the two-time European Cup winner said: “I think Milenkovic is possibly the signing of the summer.

“I think he’s been overlooked a little bit until just lately. £12 million. I saw a thing by the BBC that was saying the best signings of the summer, top 10.

“It was about a month and a half, two months ago. Milenkovic wasn’t even mentioned. I think a lot of people are mentioning him now, because he leads by example.

“He’s taken the Premier League in his stride, and that’s not easy to do – the Premier League is unforgiving.”

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Milenkovic and Morato have recorded clean sheets in both of their Premier League starts together this term[/caption]

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The Serbian star scored in back-to-back games in wins over Manchester United and Aston Villa earlier in December[/caption]

With Milenkovic slotting into an otherwise unchanged back four from last season, his influence is clear to see.

The 27-year-old has formed a rock solid centre-back pairing with promising young defender Murillo, while his partnership with Morato in his absence in recent wins to-nil over Brentford and Everton has proved equally successful.

And Birtles was quick to point to out Milenkovic’s impact on those around him.

He continued: “He’s just come in there, and he’s been absolutely brilliant alongside Murillo, who’s really upped his game as well.

“He’s 22, for goodness sake. And he’s playing incredible football alongside Milenkovic.”

Undoubtedly the bargain of the summer so far, Milenkovic’s introduction has proved a success across the board.

Forest managed just four clean sheets in all of last season, a figure which has turned on its head since the Serb joined their back line.

This term however, the East Midlands outfit have already registered a hugely impressive eight shut-outs in 19 league games, with only Liverpool recording as many.

What’s more, Milenkovic’s towering presence, who stands at 6ft 4ins, has helped Forest to address their previous aerial weakness.

While Espirito Santo’s side shipped 22 goals from set pieces in the 2023/24 campaign, the most in the Premier League, they have conceded just twice from these situations this season.

This is surely due in no small part to the former Fiorentina defender, who ranks among the league’s top ten defenders for aerial duels won, coming out on top on 47 occasions.

And it isn’t just defensively where his height has come in handy, with Milenkovic also chipping in with two goals this term, both headers coming in wins over Manchester United and Aston Villa.