Early on Wednesday we covered a report from Portugal which stated, as a matter of fact, that Jota Silva is joining Nottingham Forest.
That came just a day after there were reports in the Portuguese media making it clear Vitória de Guimarães had three offers on the table and one of those was from the Premier League club.
Nottingham Forest are paying an initial €7m for Jota Silva, with a further €3m once he’s made 15 appearances and €2m after he’s scored 10 goals.
The 24-year-old can play in multiple attacking positions and in 42 appearances last season he scored 15 goals, so there’s a chance all the bonuses could be fulfilled during the first season.
Nottingham Forest will certainly hope so, but it’s going to be a significant loss for Vitória de Guimarães.
Jota Silva is already in England, and his current but soon to be former coach Rui Borges has been speaking about the move.
Borges was happy to shower praised on on the player, and his words certainly sound positive for Nottingham Forest fans.
O Jogo quote him as saying: “Jota is a different player, special to the team and the fans, but we have to learn to live with that. I’m happy for him, it’s a step he wanted to take, he deserves it for everything that’s happened to him.
“I didn’t know him, but after the first day I understood why he’s been successful, because of his character, personality and the way he dedicates himself to work. He surprised me a lot. I have no doubt that he’ll be very successful. We’ll play with eleven players, so I’m totally calm.
“The players are ready, the transfer market is like this every year. Jota was a great example, he surprised me very positively. I knew he could leave at any minute, but anyone who saw him work every day saw that his commitment was surreal. He will get where he wants to go because of his resilience and character as a human being.
“The team has responded well. It’s not just at Vitória, the players are all for sale, football is a business. I’m ready to train, I’m hired to train. If I wanted Jota to leave, of course not, but I focus on the day-to-day and the players I have. I wish Jota the best of success, he’s following his path and we’ll follow ours. Other Jotas will appear, this is football.”
This is perhaps one of the most intriguing signings by a Premier League club so far this summer. For the amount of money and given what he’s shown, and how highly people in Portugal think of him, Jota Silva may turn into an incredible bargain.
Doubt only creeps in because of the lack of a fight put up by other clubs, although perhaps that’s their loss.
