Nottingham Forest ready to pull the trigger to beat FC Porto to £8.7m transfer

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Nottingham Forest will be in the market for a striker this summer.

Everton showed interest in Taiwo Awoniyi in January, and while a deal couldn’t be reached for the 27-year-old, he is sure to have suitors again ahead of next season.

Should Awoniyi depart, an additional burden would be placed on Chris Wood.

As remarkable as the New Zealander has been this season, Wood fully deserving of his new contract based on his performances this campaign, he cannot be relied on to lead the line in every game at 33 years of age.

That means Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will need reinforcements, with one link already emerging for a Brazilian forward currently plying his trade in Portugal.

Nottingham Forest linked with Rio Ave striker Clayton

According to the Portuguese outlet Record, a number of clubs are in for Clayton.

There is strong interest from the biggest sides in Primeira Liga, with FC Porto, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon all signifying their interest in the 26-year-old.

Outside of Portugal, however, Clayton has been offered to Nottingham Forest and Olympiakos, two sides owned by Evangelos Marinakis.

Interestingly, Rio Ave is also a club owned by Marinakis, although Clayton is only on loan at the Portuguese side; his parent club is actually the Brazilian side Vasco de Gama.

It appears the forward will nonetheless be available for €10m (£8.7m) this summer should Espirito Santo wish to snap him up.

Clayton’s stats at Rio Ave

Clayton could prove to be a good addition to the Nottingham Forest first-team.

This season, the striker has scored 13 goals in 26 Primeira Liga appearances, meaning he has found the net in every other league game on average.

Collectively, with Rio Ave only managing to bag 30 goals in the top flight across the season so far, it also means the Brazilian has scored 43% of his side’s goals, a significant contribution.

Prior to this season, however, Clayton’s statistics are more hit and miss.

He failed to find the net in six league games for Vasco de Gama in 2024, for example, before finding some form with six goals in 24 Primeira Liga appearances at Portuguese side Casa Pia A.C.

All told, according to Transfermarkt, the Brazilian has found the net 45 times across 162 professional appearances at club level.

Whether Nottingham Forest decide to opt for the Brazilian, then, remains to be seen.