£70m Gamble: Nottingham Forest Make Stunning Move for Brentford Star Igor Thiago
Nottingham Forest have reportedly made a dramatic £70 million approach for Brentford striker Igor Thiago, in a move that could become one of the most eye-catching transfers of the summer if the deal eventually goes through.
The reported offer, revealed on Sunday, has immediately raised eyebrows across the Premier League because Thiago is not simply another striker on the market. The Brazilian forward enjoyed a remarkable 2025/26 campaign and has quickly established himself as one of Brentford’s most valuable attacking players.
According to ESPN, Forest are interested in bringing the 25-year-old to the City Ground and have reportedly placed a £70m bid on the table. However, the situation remains far from straightforward, with Brentford having little obvious reason to sell a player who is tied to the club until 2031.
Thiago’s performances last season explain why Forest are prepared to consider such a significant investment. The striker finished the 2025/26 Premier League campaign with 22 goals, putting him second only to Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race, according to Football Whispers. He also scored 25 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions.
Those numbers have naturally attracted attention from several major clubs. Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Atletico Madrid and Juventus have all reportedly shown interest in the Brazilian since the end of last season.
Forest’s reported £70m offer, therefore, represents a serious statement of intent.
The timing of the approach is also significant. Nottingham Forest have already begun the new Premier League campaign, but their attacking options remain an area of discussion. Their opening league fixture ended in a 1-0 defeat to Leeds United, and the club’s need for greater firepower has only intensified the speculation surrounding Thiago.
Forest currently have several attacking options, including Igor Jesus, Chris Wood and Arnaud Kalimuendo, but Thiago would offer something different. Standing at around 6ft 3in, he combines physical strength with the finishing ability that made him one of the Premier League’s most productive forwards last season.
For Forest, the attraction is obvious. A striker capable of scoring more than 20 league goals could potentially transform their attacking threat and give the club a focal point capable of troubling the division’s strongest defences.
But there is a major obstacle.
Brentford reportedly extended Thiago’s contract until June 2031 in February and have previously made it clear that they did not want to sell the striker this summer. Football Whispers reports that Brentford had indicated an £80m valuation, meaning Forest’s reported £70m proposal may still fall short of what would be required to persuade the Bees to part with their star forward.
That leaves Forest facing an intriguing decision. Should they increase their offer, or walk away from a deal that could become one of the most expensive transfers in the club’s history?
There is also uncertainty surrounding the reliability of the report. The £70m bid was attributed to transfer journalist Rudy Galetti, while other coverage has noted that the claim has not yet been independently confirmed by Brentford or Nottingham Forest.
That distinction is important. A reported bid is not the same thing as an accepted offer, and an accepted offer is certainly not the same as a completed transfer.
For now, Thiago remains a Brentford player, and Forest’s reported pursuit should be viewed as developing transfer news rather than a done deal.
Nevertheless, the story has the potential to become one of the summer’s biggest Premier League transfer sagas. If Forest are genuinely prepared to spend £70m on Thiago, it demonstrates just how highly they rate the Brazilian.
The coming days could reveal whether Brentford are prepared to negotiate, whether Forest will return with an improved proposal, or whether the entire pursuit eventually ends without an agreement.
One thing is already clear: Nottingham Forest appear determined to find a striker capable of taking their attack to another level, and Igor Thiago has emerged as the spectacular name at the centre of that search.
Be the first to comment