Nottingham Forest are on the verge of appointing Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs as the club’s new manager, according to reports to end a three-month search for a new boss.

The Reds have been without a permanent manager since Dougie Freedman was dismissed in March and the appointment of Giggs will undoubtedly shock many.

His lack of experience will surely leave Forest fans sceptical but he is respected in the professional game and that together with his contact list should be major plusses for the club’s supporters.

A new boss and some boardroom structure at the football club make for exciting times at the City Ground and Giggs will no doubt work quickly with new director of football Pedro Pereira to recruit top quality players.

Football League World writer Lee Clarke takes a look at a dream Nottingham Forest starting line-up under the stewardship of Ryan Giggs.

GK – Sam Johnstone

The 23-year-old goalkeeper spent the second half of last season on loan at Preston North End and he would offer Nottingham Forest some Championship experience.

The tall stopper possesses superb aerial skills and would provide some superb competition for the Reds’ current number one Dorus de Vries.

Although the big Dutchman claimed the Player of the Year award last season, Giggs could look to replace him with a younger stopper and Johnstone would fit that bill perfectly.

RB – Eric Lichaj

If Giggs does become the manager at Nottingham Forest he certainly won’t need to get himself a new right-back, given the form of Eric Lichaj last season.

The American defender enjoyed his best season in a red shirt and made the slot on the right-hand side of defence his own.

Lichaj is hard working which will straight away appease Giggs who will demand an element of professionalism from his squad.

Signing a new right-back would be a waste and I would expect Lichaj to be giving his usual slot next season.

CB – Michael Mancienne

Given his days spent playing at Manchester United I would expect Giggs to go with a no-nonsense style defender next to a ball playing centre-half like Mancienne.

The former Chelsea man offered pace alongside a less mobile Matt Mills last season and I feel that Mancienne would excel working under the management of Giggs.

The 28-year-old is one of Forest’s very best players on his day and it is hard to imagine him not featuring in his best position of centre-half during the 2016/17 campaign, regardless of who the manager might be.

CB – Alex Bruce

Steve Bruce was a team-mate of Ryan Giggs’ for several years and with his Hull City side winning promotion last season, he may well choose to let his son join Giggs’ Nottingham Forest revolution.

A solid defender for the Sky Bet Championship, Bruce would probably be an improvement on Matt Mills, who may have to play a more bit part role for the Reds next season.

Bruce played just 16 times in all competitions for Hull last season and it is very unlikely that he will stick around the KC Stadium next season, given his need for first-team football and Forest could be a viable option.

LB – Daniel Pinillos

The Spaniard was a real gem of signing by ex-boss Dougie Freedman and the club sorely missed his presence during the second half of the 2015/16 campaign, following a serious knee problem.

The recovery of his knee is going well and he is expected to join in with pre-season training at the City Ground, which will come as a timely boost for Giggs upon his arrival.

Still only 23-years-old, Pinillos’ form last season did enough to suggest that he could be the club’s left-back for many more years to come.

RM – Jamie Ward

The Northern Ireland forward is currently in France with the Green and White Army at the Euros and he is expected to be a big player for Forest again next season.

The ex-Derby County player can be described as nothing other than a nuisance for opposition full-backs, with the name of Ward’s game causing as much displeasure as possible.

Ward can play a bit too and if he could just add a few more goals to his game he would be even better than he already is.

Ward’s passion will no doubt ensure that he warms to Giggs and if his body stays injury-free, the 30-year-old could be a key player for Forest next season.

CM – Henri Lansbury

Whoever does take over the managerial role at the City Ground will have a tough task keeping hold on skipper Henri Lansbury.

Played in his natural position Lansbury is one of the very best midfielders in the Sky Bet Championship but with only 12 months left on his contract, the club might be forced into a sale.

If Giggs can come in and get Lansbury performing to the best of his ability, that could tempt the former Arsenal man into signing a new contract, and if he maintains the form he showed at the back end of last season then very few Forest fans would begrudge him of an extended deal.

CM – Andreas Pereira

The Manchester United academy starlet will probably go out on loan to cut his teeth in English football next season, with Giggs likely to be at the front of the queue to take him to the City Ground.

The 20-year-old played 11 times in all competitions for Manchester United last season and a move to the Championship would be good for the player’s development.

Pereira is a threat from set pieces which would bode well for Nottingham Forest in dead ball situations, with his 25 goals for the Manchester United development squad during last season indicating just what a threat he could be playing in the second tier.

LM – Oliver Burke

In this system the players on the flank, Ward and Burke would bomb forward when Forest were on the attack and that would certainly suit this Scotland international down to the ground.

Burke is one of the brightest prospects in the whole division and the thought of former left winger Giggs taking the youngster under his wing is a truly exciting thought.

The Melton Mowbray-born winger has pace to burn and looks to have a really exciting future in professional football, with Forest fans hopeful that he will be at the City Ground for a few more years just yet.

ST – Britt Assombalonga

During his first season with the Reds, the ex-Peterborough United man netted 15 goals before a serious knee ligament injury put an end to his season in February 2015.

He missed over a year of action but returned towards the end of the 2015/16 campaign to show the Reds faithful exactly what they had been missing.

The 23-year-old is one of the most prolific strikers in the league and will hopefully start next season with a flourish in front of goal.

The striker netted his only goal for the season in 15/16 on the final day at MK Dons and afterwards admitted that he was already looking forward to next season!

ST- James Wilson

It was Ryan Giggs who handed the young striker his very first start for Manchester United back during his caretaker spell in charge in 2014.

Wilson repaid his manager’s faith by netting twice in a 3-1 win over Hull City, which suggests to me that there is a mutual respect between Giggs and Wilson.

The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at Brighton and Hove Albion, scoring five goals in 24 games featuring largely from the substitute’s bench.

Wilson can be an asset for any club in the Sky Bet Championship if he is utilised from the start every single week, and with Forest desperately short of strikers his chances of playing would be high should he move to the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest fans, do you agree with this team? Who else would you like to see Ryan Giggs start with? Would Chris Cohen, David Vaughan or Ben Osborn make the grade? Let us know in the comments below!!!