Nottingham Forest worked tirelessly to secure a new forward during the January transfer window, with their manager Evangelos Marinakis making it a top priority. The club was keen to bolster their attacking options, especially since the only forwards available for the rest of the season were Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi. While both players have shown promise, having only two options up front raises concerns about their fitness and ability to maintain consistent performances over the course of the remaining campaign.
One of the key targets for Forest was Yoane Wissa, a talented forward at Brentford. Forest made several attempts to bring Wissa to the City Ground, but their offers were rejected, with Brentford seemingly unwilling to entertain any deals for their star player during the winter window. It is widely believed that Wissa’s market value hovers around £40 million, which further complicated any negotiations.
In addition to Wissa, Forest also expressed interest in Igor Jesus, a striker currently playing for Botafogo. However, Arsenal had already had a loan bid for the Brazilian rejected, and the player decided to remain at the Premier League club until at least the summer. At that point, he is expected to explore a move to Europe, potentially opening the door for a transfer to one of the continent’s top leagues.
There was also speculation linking Forest to Matheus Cunha, the talented Brazilian forward playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite rumors suggesting a move, Cunha ultimately stayed at Wolves and, in a surprising turn of events, signed a new contract. This new deal included a hefty release clause of £62.5 million, effective during the upcoming summer transfer window.
The situation regarding Cunha’s future has caught the attention of several top clubs, including Forest, Arsenal, and Aston Villa, who are all reportedly keen to secure his services. However, Forest may now face an uphill battle in signing him. Although Morgan Gibbs-White, a Forest player, has publicly endorsed Cunha’s potential arrival, the Brazilian forward may be inclined to join a club with a more established pedigree, which would put teams like Arsenal or Aston Villa at the forefront of the race.
Ben Jacobs, a football insider, recently provided an update on Cunha’s future in an interview with Give Me Sport. Jacobs mentioned that despite Wolves’ potential relegation or survival, clubs will likely be able to negotiate a deal for Cunha in the summer. While the release clause may seem like a straightforward option, there may be room for clubs to find alternative arrangements, which could lead to a deal for a more favorable price.
Former footballer Clinton Morrison, who has close ties with Forest through his children playing in their academy, has expressed his support for the club’s pursuit of Cunha. Morrison, who has been closely following Cunha’s performances, was full of praise for the Brazilian forward. Cunha’s brilliant goal against Blackburn in the FA Cup earlier this year certainly caught Morrison’s attention, and he has since made it clear that he believes Cunha is ready for a move to a top-tier club. On Sky Sports, Morrison stated: “He’s outstanding, there’s a lot of top teams looking at him and in the summer he will still move on. He has the X-Factor, he can drop into pockets and he scores plenty of goals. He could play for one of the top, top teams.”
Cunha’s performances this season have been impressive, as he has scored 12 goals in 24 Premier League appearances. His most recent goal came in a match against Liverpool, and it’s clear that the 25-year-old forward’s star is on the rise. Given his talent and growing reputation, it’s likely that Cunha’s future lies beyond Wolverhampton, and clubs across Europe will be watching closely as he prepares to make his next move.
As for Nottingham Forest, they will undoubtedly continue their search for a new forward in the summer transfer window. With the potential to secure European football, Forest may be able to attract higher-quality players, and Cunha could be a perfect fit for the club’s aspirations. He possesses many qualities that would make him an ideal addition to their attacking options, and securing his signature would be a major coup for the Reds as they look to strengthen their squad for the next phase of their journey. However, they will likely face stiff competition from other Premier League sides, making any potential transfer a difficult and uncertain pursuit.
