Nottingham Forest have acted swiftly in the 2025 summer transfer market. With European football taking place at the City Ground for the first time this century, Nuno Espirito Santo is eyeing deals for Jair Cunha, Cuiabano, and Igor Jesus from Brazilian side Botafogo.
This certainly appears to be a wonderful piece of business for the club, especially given the success of South American talents such as Murillo and Danilo at the City Ground.
anthony-elanga-nottingham-forest-nuno-espirito-santo
Santo won't be resting on his laurels, however, especially with the chance to attract high-profile players this summer.
With that in mind, he will be keen to recruit smartly. As such, might the former Wolves boss be looking at someone who shone in the Championship last term?
Nottingham Forest eyeing Championship star
According to Football Insider, Forest are now looking to ramp up their interest in Norwich City winger Borja Sainz during the summer transfer window.
Porto and Athletic Club are also eyeing a move for the 24-year-old sensation, suggesting Santo has plenty of competition, after his performances in the Championship.
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While signing players from Brazil and further afield appears to be the club’s philosophy, there is some value to be had from the second tier of English football.
Of course, success in the second tier doesn’t mean a player will explode in the Premier League. Sainz, however, does look like he could be a fine addition to most clubs in the top flight.
Might he even be an upgrade on Callum Hudson-Odoi?
Why Nottingham Forest must sign Borja Sainz
Hudson-Odoi played all but seven Premier League matches for Forest last term, scoring five goals and grabbing three assists in the process.
Solid, if unspectacular, numbers by the former Chelsea sensation. Could these be improved upon next season?
Comparing Hudson-Odoi and Sainz last season
League level
Goals
Assists
Big chances created
Successful dribbles per game
Key passes per game
Total duels won per game
Last season for Norwich, Sainz netted 19 times and registered four assists across 43 matches for the Canaries in all competitions. This works out as a goal contribution every 1.8 matches.
These sorts of numbers would give Santo a major boost on the left wing, as the aforementioned statistics suggest that he has the potential to deliver even more quality than Hudson-Odoi in the final third as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
borja-sainz-norwich-city
Sainz also created nine big chances for his teammates last term, along with averaging 1.2 key passes per match and succeeding with an impressive 2.4 dribbles per game for the Canaries.
As such, he was dubbed “ruthless” by pundit Don Goodman, who also said: "You could see there was a really good player in him last season, despite scoring six goals and registering just two assists.
"He's gone to another level this season, though.”
When compared to his positional peers in the second tier last term, Sainz ranked in the top 3% for both non-penalty goals (0.45) and successful take-ons (2.47), but he also ranked in the top 6% for total shots (2.94) per 90.
Another level indeed. Compare this to Hudson Odoi’s stats, and there is a clear difference. The Englishman fails to rank in the top 30% for any of the statistics listed above.
Of course, Sainz’s were recorded in the Championship, but if given the chance, he can sparkle in the top flight, no doubt about that.
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He's a wanted man...