21-goal striker fancied by Nottingham Forest this summer now contacted by Newcastle

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Nottingham Forest tried to sign Marcos Leonardo in the summer and now Newcastle United are keen to land him. The Reds had the striker on their wishlist for the summer but couldn’t get a deal over the line.

Leonardo looks almost certainly to sign for a European club when the January window reopens. According to UOL in Brazil, Santos have already been contacted by Newcastle as they look to sign him.

At 20-years-old, the talisman has an abundance of potential. During the 2022/23 campaign, he’s scored a brilliant 21 goals and also claimed four assists during his 42 appearances for the club.

Forest face competition for Leonardo

The Reds have enjoyed some success with shopping in South America since they won promotion. Murillo has been the latest to hit the ground running, whilst Danilo shone during the second half of last season.

The problem with signing Leonardo from a Forest perspective is that Newcastle will be a very attractive proposition. They’re currently playing in the Champions League and will challenge for honours in the coming seasons.

In the summer, Forest made a serious move to try and sign Leonardo. Back then, they couldn’t get a deal over the line, with Santos choosing to stand firm over their hitman.

Forest might be a little bit away from doing that just yet. The Reds are still trying to find a winning formula at Premier League level and Steve Cooper is unlikely to be blowing Eddie How out of the water just yet.

What would Leonardo bring to the City Ground?

Previously, the player has been compared to Manchester City icon Sergio Aguero. Tim Vickery knows his stuff when it comes to South American football and he made that comparison on TalkSPORT previously.

That would suggest that he’s all-action inside the penalty area. He comes alive in those surroundings and he’s a feared marksman that craves being between the posts.

Forest could be facing a losing battle with Leonardo though. Newcastle’s interest looks genuine and given his status as a wonderkid, this might be a race that the club simply cannot win.