Nottingham Forest may finally have a way to move John Victor on in January, with another Brazilian club now preparing to make an offer for the goalkeeper.
We’ve covered his desire to leave the City Ground after struggling for opportunities. Flamengo have recently been linked with him, while Cruzeiro tried to get a deal going earlier this year without much success.
Now Vasco da Gama have joined the picture. And this time, there are some interesting details about what Forest will actually accept.
Nottingham Forest want €9m and won’t consider loan
According to Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte, Vasco have already opened conversations with John Victor’s representatives.
The goalkeeper has been on their radar since the previous transfer window. However, it was only after new president Marcos Lamacchia took charge that Vasco felt able to pursue a deal with Nottingham Forest.
Lamacchia is aware of the club’s financial problems. His first years in charge are expected to involve sorting out their accounts and dealing with existing debts.
Even so, he believes Vasco can afford to invest in building a competitive squad for 2027. John Victor is one of the players he wants to bring in. And there is some encouragement coming from England.
RTI Esporte say Nottingham Forest won’t stand in the goalkeeper’s way if a suitable offer arrives. They want to raise money for new signings in January, and selling John Victor would help.
There is a catch, though. Forest are only interested in a permanent transfer. They’ve ruled out a loan, even if that might make finding a buyer easier.
The asking price is reportedly around €9m (£7.8m), broadly in line with previous reports from Brazil.
Vasco aren’t expected to offer that much straight away. Their first proposal should come in below Forest’s valuation, and they also intend to ask for payment in instalments.
So while the English club are happy to discuss a sale, there’s still some work to do before the numbers make sense.
John Victor’s wages shouldn’t stop Vasco
Another interesting detail concerns the goalkeeper’s salary. RTI Esporte report that John Victor currently earns around €145,000 (£125,000) per month at Nottingham Forest. And the Brazilian outlet says those wages are within Vasco’s reach. They’re close to what the club already pay their current first-choice goalkeeper, Léo Jardim.
That doesn’t mean a deal is close, of course. Vasco still need to agree a transfer fee with Forest, and Lamacchia has other goalkeeping options on his list. But the salary side of things doesn’t appear to be a major concern.
As for John Victor, he’s open to returning to Brazilian football. He’s made just nine appearances since joining Forest in August 2025 and hasn’t featured at all this season.
He wants to play regularly again, especially with the possibility of getting back into Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad.
Forest waiting for Vasco’s first offer
Nottingham Forest are currently second-bottom of the Premier League, according to the report, and are looking to raise funds for targeted reinforcements in January. John Victor’s contract runs until June 2028, so they still have some control over the situation.
The goalkeeper wants to leave, Vasco have the financial backing to make an attempt, and Forest are prepared to sell. The next question is how much the Brazilian club are actually willing to put on the table.
For now, talks have taken place with John Victor’s representatives, but Vasco haven’t submitted a formal offer to Nottingham Forest.
With Lamacchia treating the goalkeeper as a priority, that could be the next development to watch.
