Nottingham Forest Eye Bold Swap Deal In Pursuit of Gyokeres

With Nottingham Forest still battling for a top-four finish, eyes are already turning to the summer transfer window. And in what could be a marquee move for the club, Forest are now plotting an ambitious player-plus-cash offer to bring Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres to the City Ground — a deal that could see winger Jota Silva head in the opposite direction.

As reported by Football Fancast, Evangelos Marinakis and sporting director Edu Gaspar are determined to back Nuno Espírito Santo with elite-level signings, and Gyokeres fits the bill. The Sweden international has been described as “incredible” by football scout Jacek Kulig, and his statistics back up the hype. With 30 goals in 26 Liga Portugal appearances, he has quickly become one of Europe’s most prolific forwards.

His expected goals (xG) tally of 24.63 highlights his efficiency in front of goal, converting at a rate of 28% from 4.2 shots per game. Add to that 6 assists and 11 big chances created, and it’s clear why the 25-year-old is in such high demand.

Forest’s interest, though, comes at a price. Gyokeres is valued between £50m and £58m, and with Sporting in no rush to sell, the Reds are reportedly ready to include Silva — a player Sporting boss Rui Borges already admires — as part of the negotiation.

Jota Silva Struggling for Game Time at Forest

Jota Silva’s debut season in England hasn’t quite gone to plan. Despite making 26 Premier League appearances, he has started only four games. While Silva has chipped in with goals and assists during cameo roles, he’s yet to fully convince Nuno that he’s part of the long-term plan.

On a modest £25,000-per-week wage, the Portuguese winger could represent excellent value for Sporting — especially if it helps smooth over an otherwise costly transfer fee for Gyokeres. According to Correio da Manha, via Nottingham Forest News, Borges rates Silva highly, and his arrival could help ease the blow of losing their talismanic striker.

This kind of creativity in the transfer market may be essential for Forest, who are looking to avoid getting into bidding wars with rival Premier League clubs. Gyokeres is not short of suitors, with Manchester United and other top-flight clubs also tracking his situation.

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