With just two weeks to go until the transfer window’s closure, Nottingham Forest are still looking to bolster their defensive ranks.
After multiple failed attempts, the Reds have now turned their attention to Benfica’s Brazilian centre-back Morato.
The 22-year-old has been at the Portuguese side since 2019 when he joined from Sao Paulo back in his homeland of Brazil.
Throughout his four years in Portugal, he’s made 25 appearances for Benfica’s first-team, with his performances leading to Premier League side Fulham making an £18 million bid for the defender.
Despite the bid being rejected, Morato has clarified his ambition to play in England’s top flight.
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Who is Nottingham Forest target, Morato?
Felipe Rodrigues da Silva, more commonly known as Morato, joined Benfica for £6 million in September 2019.
The Benfica number 5 has featured in the Champions League for the Portuguese giants, scoring against Bayern Munich for his first goal for the club.
The ‘magnificent‘ defender has also featured for the Brazilian U20 squad, alongside one-time Forest target Carlos Augusto and former Leicester City loanee Tete.
Morato is primarily a ball-playing central defender, who loves to play forward and build attacks from the back.
Brazilian defender Morato averages 66 passes per game, at 91% accuracy. Out of his 66 passes, 4.6 are progressive, which is defined as a pass that breaks the midfield line – a figure in the top 13% of all defenders in Europe.
With the growing Brazilian contingency at the City Ground, Morato could be a great option for the Reds to help bolster the defensive department.