Nottingham Forest striker Igor Jesus is attracting interest ahead of January, but clubs in Brazil may be wasting their time.
The 25-year-old has received enquiries about a possible winter transfer, with Flamengo and former club Botafogo believed to be among those interested.
There are two rather big obstacles, though. Nottingham Forest have placed a hefty price tag on the Brazilian, and Sport Witness understands he has no intention of returning home just yet.
His priority is to continue playing in the Premier League, even if things haven’t quite gone to plan at the City Ground this season.
Nottingham Forest put €40m price on Igor Jesus
According to ESPN Brazil, Forest value the striker at €40m (£33.4m), a figure likely to discourage potential buyers.
The Brazilian outlet reports that enquiries have arrived ahead of the January 2027 window, although a departure is considered highly unlikely.
Jesus has made just seven appearances this season, scoring once. His limited involvement naturally raises questions about his future, especially with clubs elsewhere checking whether he might be available.
Brazilian sides are among those showing interest. Flamengo and Botafogo have been linked with a possible move, with the latter knowing the player well from his successful spell in Rio de Janeiro.
A return would certainly attract attention back home. After all, he left Botafogo for English football following a hugely successful period with the club.
But there’s a considerable difference between enquiring about a player and having a realistic chance of signing him. And in this case, the biggest complication might not even be the money.
Striker’s entourage wants Premier League stay
Sport Witness has learned that Igor Jesus and his representatives have ruled out a return to Brazilian football at this stage of his career.
Despite his lack of regular football at Nottingham Forest, the striker’s intention is to remain in the Premier League.
That position is worth highlighting given the interest he attracted elsewhere in Europe only a few months ago.
During the summer transfer window, Juventus and Porto made strong enquiries about his situation. Neither led to a move, but the interest showed that his options extended well beyond England and Brazil.
For now, though, the Premier League remains the priority. That doesn’t necessarily mean Jesus is looking to leave Nottingham Forest for another English club. And he hasn’t requested a transfer, either.
Either way, Forest’s €40m (£33.4m) valuation already makes negotiations complicated. Convincing the player to abandon his plans in England would be another challenge altogether.
With January approaching, those enquiries could continue. But unless something changes considerably, a return to Brazil isn’t part of Igor Jesus’ immediate plans.
