Report: Nottingham Forest set to move for Brazilian youngster

Nottingham Forest Transfer Latest: Liam Delap Nears £45m Move as Andre Talks Gather Pace

Nottingham Forest look to be accelerating through a decisive stretch of the summer window, with a major move for Liam Delap edging towards completion and fresh talks under way for Corinthians midfielder Andre. In a market that has already produced plenty of noise across the Premier League, Forest's business feels particularly significant because it speaks to squad building with purpose, age profile and resale value all in view.

According to the Mail , Forest and Chelsea are closing on a £45 million deal for Delap, with a verbal agreement in place and a medical expected within the next 24 hours. Alongside that, Forest are also in talks over a £13.6 million move for Andre, the highly rated Corinthians midfielder who has attracted attention beyond Brazil after a rapid rise over the past year.

For a club seeking to push forward under Oliver Glasner, these are the sort of moves that reveal intent. Forest are not simply looking for squad fillers or short-term patches, they are targeting players who can improve the first XI, raise athletic levels and alter the shape of the side over the next few seasons.

Liam Delap transfer points to serious Forest ambition

The Delap development is the headline item, and with good reason. A £45 million outlay for a 23-year-old striker is a serious statement from Forest, particularly when the market for centre-forwards has become so inflated. Clubs across Europe are fighting for forwards with power, pace and room to develop, and Forest appear ready to commit heavily to one they believe can lead the line.

The report states that talks intensified on Monday following Chelsea's game at Fulham , and that the deal is now close. If the medical proceeds as expected, Forest will be adding a striker whose game is built around direct running, physical presence and aggression in central areas. Those qualities can transform the attacking structure of a side, especially one that wants to attack quicker, pin defenders back and threaten transitions more regularly.

What makes this move compelling is the broader football logic behind it. Delap offers more than a body in the box. He can stretch teams vertically, battle with centre-halves and create the kind of chaos that opens spaces for wide forwards and attacking midfielders. For a manager who values intensity and front-foot football, that profile has obvious appeal.

There is pressure that comes with a fee of this size, of course. Every touch, every missed chance and every run of form will be weighed against the £45 million figure. Yet that is the reality of the modern market, and if Forest believe Delap is ready to become a leading Premier League striker, this is the stage at which bold clubs have to move.

Andre could reshape Forest midfield after Elliot Anderson sale

The second strand of the story may prove equally important over time. Forest are in talks to sign Andre from Corinthians for £13.6 million, a deal that looks sharp in value terms when measured against the premiums attached to young midfielders in Europe. The 20-year-old has only been in the Brazilian top flight for a year, yet his reputation has advanced quickly enough to draw serious interest.

The Mail reports that AC Milan tried to sign him in January, while Crystal Palace have also been watching him. That level of competition matters. It suggests Forest are not acting on a whim, but targeting a player with a growing cross-market reputation.

Midfield has clearly been an area of focus since the sale of Elliot Anderson to Manchester City . The article notes Forest have also made offers for Lucas Bergvall at Tottenham Hotspur and Tijjani Reijnders , who has since moved from City to Al Qadsiah. That alone tells you the recruitment team are trying to land a certain type of player, one with mobility, technical security and the ability to cover ground in modern Premier League midfields.

Andre appears to fit that mould. Younger South American midfielders often bring a blend of bravery on the ball and competitive edge without it, and those attributes can translate very well if the adaptation process is managed properly. If Forest can conclude this deal, they would be adding a player whose value could rise sharply in England if he settles quickly.

It would also ease some of the concern around succession planning in midfield. The Premier League now demands depth, pace and tactical intelligence in the engine room, and clubs that fail to refresh there tend to find themselves overrun over the course of a season.

From a Nottingham Forest point of view, this report is the sort of update that gets supporters leaning forward rather than sitting back. Delap for £45 million is a huge call, but it is also the kind of call fans have wanted to see when there is a chance to bring in a proper focal point up front. Forest have often looked like a side in need of more force and certainty in the final third, and Delap sounds like a signing built to change that quickly.

Andre is the one that really sparks curiosity as well. Forest supporters have seen enough transfer windows to know that buying younger talent from abroad can go either way, but if the club genuinely believes he is one of the best emerging midfielders in Brazil, then £13.6 million could end up looking very smart. Replacing quality in midfield is vital after selling Elliot Anderson, and the fact the club have been looking at multiple technical midfielders suggests there is a real plan.