Nottingham Forest submit £70m offer for “special” star

Nottingham Forest have submitted a bid for Brentford striker Igor Thiago, following a 1-0 defeat at home against Leeds United in their opening Premier League game.

It was far from the ideal start for Oliver Glasner, who succumbed to a loss in his first competitive game since taking over as Forest boss, with Anton Stach bagging a late winner for the visitors.

The Tricky Trees struggled to create any real opportunities, recording an xG of just 0.66, and they have now set out to sign a new centre-forward, with Glasner known to be a big fan of Thiago.

Speaking last season, the Austrian said: “They already signed [Igor Thiago] over a year ago, and then he ruptured his ACL in pre-season. He already scored more than 30 goals in Belgium, so he’s a player I know. It took him one year [of recovery], and he’s now on 22 goals, or something like this. To score more than 20 goals in the Premier League you have to do a fantastic job and play a great season, and he’s always a threat.

“He’s good in the air, makes good runs, is a great finisher with good feeling in the box and, of course, is a great penalty taker. He deserves huge credit as well, like all the Brentford players, the whole organisation. They are competing for European places, and that’s why they deserve all the credit.”

It was a fantastic debut campaign for the Brazilian in the Premier League, netting 22 goals in 38 matches, which meant he was chosen in Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad.

Nottingham Forest submit mega bid for Igor Thiago

According to reports on the continent, Nottingham Forest have now submitted a £70m bid for Thiago, who remains under contract with Brentford until 2031.

However, as we approach the end of the summer transfer window, interest in the Brazil international is growing, and there is still a chance he exits the Gtech Communtiy Stadium.

Manager Keith Andrews may be reluctant to cash-in on the striker though, with the Irishman saying last season: “He is a really special person who has fitted into life very nicely. He has had to earn this path. He has earned his journey and grafted.

“He has got serious grit about his personality. He is developing his skill set constantly, and we are learning more and more about him. He is a pretty complete centre-forward.”