Nottingham Forest spent millions bringing John Victor and Cuiabano over from Botafogo last year.
Just over 12 months later, the pair have made nine first-team appearances between them, and both could soon be heading to the same Brazilian club.
Things are moving at Vasco da Gama, where two separate transfer situations are starting to look like a potential double deal.
One player has already found his feet in Rio de Janeiro. The other wants to get back on the pitch after a frustrating spell in England.
And if Vasco get their way, Nottingham Forest could be looking at around €11-12m (£9.2-10m) in transfer fees for two players who currently have little involvement in the first team.
How the two deals are taking shape
Cuiabano is the more advanced of the two. He’s already at Vasco on loan, has played 36 matches this season and wants to stay beyond December.
The Brazilian club have now made their move. Globo Esporte revealed that Vasco have submitted an offer worth €6-7m (£5-5.8m). That’s below the €10m (£8.4m) purchase option agreed with Forest when the loan was arranged.
The English club haven’t responded yet, but there’s optimism around the negotiations. Cuiabano is happy, his representatives like Vasco’s plans, and a meeting is scheduled for November to discuss a longer, more lucrative contract.
John Victor has taken a different route to the same possibility. He arrived at Forest in August 2025 after winning the Brazilian league and Copa Libertadores with Botafogo. The expectation was that he’d compete for opportunities in England.
Instead, he’s managed nine appearances and hasn’t played a single minute this season.
Vasco have already been speaking to his representatives, with incoming investor Marcos Lamacchia reportedly backing the pursuit. And there’s now an important development on Forest’s side.
ESPN Brazil reported that John has informed the English club he wants to leave in January. Forest are asking for at least €5m (£4.2m) to negotiate a sale. That’s considerably lower than the €9m (£7.5m) valuation covered last week.
What Nottingham Forest could get out of it
Forest reportedly paid €8m (£6.7m) for John and €6m (£5m) for Cuiabano in 2025. That’s a combined €14m (£11.7m) for players who’ve barely contributed to the first team.
So if Vasco’s current Cuiabano offer is accepted and John leaves for Forest’s reported minimum price, the two transfers would generate around €11-12m (£9.2-10m) in gross fees.
There are also retained rights from the original Botafogo deals to consider, so that wouldn’t necessarily be the amount Forest keep.
Still, it’s an interesting outcome for two signings made during the extraordinary run of business between Botafogo and Forest last year.
Cuiabano never made an official appearance for the English club. John barely had a chance to establish himself. Yet both could now help Forest recover a significant part of their original investment.
The pieces are seemingly falling into place. The same buyer, two players open to staying in or returning to Brazil, and a potentially useful sum of money for Marinakis.
