Nottingham Forest are currently enduring a tough return to life in the Premier League having picked up just four points from their opening seven league games, with the jury still out on the wisdom of trying to integrate such a vast number of new additions.

One of those 22 deals that was completed in the recent window saw the newly-promoted outfit pluck England international Jesse Lingard from Manchester United, following the expiry of the 29-year-old's contract at Old Trafford.

While lauded as something of a coup at the time - having won the race for his signature ahead of West Ham United - the playmaker has since made a slow start to life at the City Ground, failing to net a single goal or register a single assist thus far this season.

In truth, manager Steve Cooper potentially missed a trick in not landing another free agent in the form of compatriot Gareth Bale, with the Wales superstar having reportedly been a player that the Garibaldi were considering in the recent window, following his exit from Real Madrid.

As it proved, the 33-year-old ultimately sealed a move to MLS side LAFC, with the ageing menace seemingly hoping to get up to speed in time for the upcoming World Cup, having been on the periphery in his final campaign at the Bernabeu - making just five La Liga appearances.

While the injury-prone veteran would not have been a figure to rely upon week-in, week-out for Cooper and co, he could well have provided that rare quality of being able to produce something out of nothing, having so often delivered the goods for both club and country over the years.

The former Tottenham Hotspur man has enjoyed a glittering career thus far with a plethora of major honours to his name - including five Champions League trophies - while his overall club record stands at 185 goals and 139 assists in 552 games to date.

Although no longer at his peak, the 107-cap menace still has that ability to be a "game-changer" - as described by journalist Stuart James - having netted twice in stunning fashion for his country against Austria in the World Cup, semi-final play-off back in June.

A man with a knack for the spectacular - notably netting that gravity-defying overhead kick against Liverpool in the European showpiece back in 2018 - Bale would certainly have provided a real magic touch to a Forest side that currently looks in need of imagination and leadership.

Although the one-time Southampton man has been gradually eased into life in America, he has already showcased the difference he can make in the final third, scoring twice in just 11 league outings including a brilliant solo goal against Real Salt Lake last month.

As such, for all the signings that Cooper did sanction this summer, it could well be one that he didn't make that ultimately proves costly, with the club having missed out on Bale for a second time after previously doing so over a decade ago...