Nottingham Forest are allegedly close to signing Botafogo forward Igor Jesus.
Although Forest did not qualify for the Champions League, their participation in next season’s Conference League will make them an appealing transfer target.
The East Midlands club already has several high-profile players on its roster, and that number will only grow as the summer window progresses.
According to Globo Esporte, Forest made a significant offer to Botafogo to sign Jesus in the next weeks.
According to the report, Forest are willing to pay a €20 million (£16.81 million) fee to complete the deal for the Brazil international.
Jesus, a dynamic attacker, with 15 goals and six assists in 54 games for Botafogo, which won the Brasileiro title in 2024.
Jesus has five goals and one assist in 14 top flight and Copa Libertadores appearances this year, and Botafogo is prepared to insist that he stay with the club for the forthcoming Club World Cup.
Nonetheless, it is reported that the club is willing to approve a move, and that the 24-year-old’s representation are also eager to finalise the transaction.
However, the source states that Botafogo will wait in the near term in case another team makes a stronger offer.
When Chris Wood is the undisputed first choice down the middle of Nuno Espirito Santo’s assault, any striker who arrives at the City Ground this summer knows they will be the backup for that position.
Jesus has played in that capacity for Botafogo, although he is capable of playing in a variety of positions across the final third.
That is a trait that Nuno has chosen when adding to his attack in recent transfer windows, with Jota Silva and Ramon Sosa being significant additions even if they were merely backups to the starting front four.
However, if Forest makes it through the Conference League playoffs, they will need extra quality to meet the demands of European football.
