Nottingham Forest will now have to pay a higher transfer fee if they want to land Pablo Maia this summer. The Reds and Fulham have both been linked with a move for the talented Brazilian.
UOL journalist Andre Hernan has provided an update on the future of the 21-year-old. Forest have been monitoring the player closely since last summer, with other Premier League clubs now also keen.
It had previously been claimed that a fee of under £10 million would be enough to sign the player. However, now Sao Paulo want to recoup around £18 million if they’re to sell one of their star men.
Maia is a midfielder with a defensive mindset. At his current club, he offers protection to the back four and perhaps this link highlights the type of midfielder Forest want to sign this summer.
Despite his tender years, the Brazilian does have quite a bit of experience playing senior football. He’s made 92 appearances in the top division for Sao Paulo and it’s only natural that interest is emerging from Europe.
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It’s perhaps not a surprise that Forest are looking for a defence-minded midfielder this summer. Orel Mangala, Danilo and Ryan Yates finished the season as the first-choice options but they’re all quite similar.
Maia would bring something a little bit different to the current Forest team. He’s been cautioned seven times during the 2023 campaign and that showcases that he loves to get stuck in.
A YouTube compilation of the player’s best bits uploaded last month offered a glimpse of what to expect from Maia. He was called a ‘warrior’ on that upload and he clearly has something to offer.
Forest will have to pay a higher transfer fee for Maia
Hindsight is a wonderful thing with transfers. With that in mind, Forest might have wished they’d taken a chance on Maia last summer when they first looked at him.
Still, £18 million would hardly break the bank from a Forest perspective. Danilo cost the club a couple of million less and that’s proven to be money well spent.
Maia’s stock will only continue to rise in the coming months. Other clubs will become interested in his services and perhaps the Reds need to act a bit quicker.