Coventry City are already moving like a club that knows survival in the Premier League will depend on smart recruitment, and Botafogo winger Matheus Martins has now emerged as one of the names on their radar ahead of the summer window.
According to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, the newly promoted side are among several European clubs tracking the 22-year-old, alongside Feyenoord, Celta de Vigo and Krasnodar.
Coventry’s interest stands out because the club are preparing for their first Premier League campaign in 25 years under Frank Lampard.
Botafogo are now open to selling the winger for around €8m (£6.7m). That figure is notably below the €10m (£8.4m) they paid Udinese in 2024.
The Brazilian side are under financial pressure and reportedly see Matheus Martins as one of the assets capable of generating immediate funds.
Premier League newcomers often struggle to find attackers with top-flight experience at affordable prices. Matheus Martins already knows English football after his spell at Watford, where he played 49 matches, scored six goals and added three assists in the Championship before returning to Brazil.
Coventry City could see market opportunity
Matheus Martins has not fully exploded at Botafogo, but there are signs of why clubs remain interested.
Since arriving, he has played 81 matches, scoring nine goals and providing two assists. Those numbers are modest on paper, yet his pace, ability to attack defenders one-v-one and experience across different systems still make him an attractive developmental option.
Lampard’s side are expected to recruit aggressively this summer, especially in wide areas, and Matheus Martins fits the profile of a player with resale potential, Premier League athleticism and previous adaptation to English football.
Financial pressure could help Coventry
There is another important detail behind Botafogo’s stance.
The Brazilian club still owes Udinese part of the original transfer fee and the case has reached FIFA. Reports in Brazil estimate the outstanding debt at around €6m (£5m). That financial pressure appears to be influencing the club’s willingness to negotiate below the original purchase price.
In practical terms, that could hand Coventry an opening.
An €8m (£6.7m) deal is relatively manageable by Premier League standards, especially for a player who is still only 22 and already has experience in Brazil, Italy’s network system through Udinese, and English football.
Matheus Martins is currently recovering from a muscle injury, but Botafogo expect him back soon. His situation now looks increasingly likely to become one of the club’s main transfer stories of the summer.
