Nottingham Forest could soon receive an offer for Cuiabano, although Vasco da Gama are preparing to test their patience with a… rather sizeable discount.
The Brazilian club want to sign the 23-year-old permanently after his loan spell, but have no intention of paying the €10m (£8.7m) purchase option included in their agreement.
Instead, Vasco are preparing an offer of €5m (£4.4m). That’s half the agreed figure, leaving Forest with a decision to make over a player who has yet to make his competitive debut for them.
Vasco want Forest to accept half the price
According to Brazilian insider Super Vasco, the two clubs are discussing Cuiabano’s permanent transfer, with Vasco planning to submit their proposal.
The report makes it clear that the Brazilian side have ruled out triggering the €10m (£8.7m) clause. They want to negotiate a considerably cheaper deal.
That doesn’t mean Forest have agreed to anything, of course. There’s no indication they’ve accepted the proposed figure, or even received a formal offer yet.
Still, it’s a fairly bold starting point from Vasco. They already have a price written into the loan agreement and are now looking to cut it in half.
The situation is made more interesting by Cuiabano’s own preference. The left-back has settled well in Rio de Janeiro since arriving on loan in February. He wants to stay at Vasco in 2027, with his family also keen to remain in the city.
Vasco president Pedrinho has personally told the player that keeping him is one of the club’s priorities. That gives the Brazilian side some encouragement as they try to negotiate a deal on their terms.
Forest have reasons to consider their options
Cuiabano’s spell in Brazil has shown why Vasco are so keen to keep him. His performances have impressed the club’s football department, who believe he has the quality to play at a high level in Brazil.
| Competition | Apps | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazilian Cup | 4 | 314 | 0 | 0 |
| Brazilian League | 22 | 1,588 | 1 | 4 |
| Copa Sudamericana | 7 | 530 | 0 | 1 |
| State championship | 1 | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 34 | 2,461 | 1 | 5 |
There have been complications, though. The defender missed around a month during the second half of the season with physical problems. His injury record had already been identified as a concern when Vasco were assessing whether to pursue a permanent deal.
Those issues are nothing new for Forest. Cuiabano struggled with fitness during his time in England and never managed to make his debut.
And as we covered earlier, there has also been interest from elsewhere. Torino, Rennes and Strasbourg made enquiries during the summer, although none developed into a transfer. More recently, three Saudi Arabian clubs were reported to be monitoring him ahead of January.
That gives Forest something to think about before agreeing to a discount. Other clubs have shown interest, even if there’s no evidence of a competing offer on the table.
Vasco, meanwhile, have the player’s preference on their side and are now trying to turn that into a deal worth considerably less than the original purchase option.
For Forest, the question is whether €5m (£4.4m) would be enough to part with a player they signed but never actually used.
The proposed offer would at least provide a possible permanent solution. Whether Forest are willing to accept a 50% reduction is another matter entirely.
