Nottingham Forest are currently digging their heels in as Tottenham push to sign Morgan Gibbs-White.
TBR Football understand Evangelos Marinakis has no idea how Spurs discovered the England international’s £60m release clause, and is considering action over what the man born in Piraeus believes to be an illegal approach from Tottenham.
Nevertheless, the deal is still expected to go through, as Gibbs-White has told Nottingham Forest he wants to join Tottenham this summer, and the north Londoners are ready to pay the £60m fee.
Now, a sign that Nottingham Forest are starting to back down has emerged, as O Jogo claim the Reds have made an approach to sign Thiago Almada.
Nottingham Forest open talks with Botafogo over Thiago Almada
The Portuguese news outlet now believe Nottingham Forest are competing against Benfica to sign the Argentina international.
O Jogo state that Almada – once a target for Leeds United – has a €30m (£26m) price tag, with Atletico Madrid also keen on his services.
Incidentally, the South American also plays in the No.10 role like Gibbs-White, so the fact a move has been made for another attacking midfielder, just as Tottenham attempt to sign the Nottingham Forest No.10, is very interesting.
The timing could well be telling.
Almada – aged 24 – scored one goal and provided five assists across 16 appearances in Ligue 1 last season while on loan at Lyon.
Nottingham Forest could have an advantage over Benfica and Atletico Madrid
As some Nottingham Forest fans may have already deduced, John Textor owns Botafogo, and the American has done plenty of business with Marinakis so far this summer.
Nottingham Forest have taken Jair Cunha and Igor Jesus from the Brazilian side this summer, so relations are clearly strong between the Reds and Botafogo, which could give Nuno Espirito Santo an edge over Atletico Madrid and Benfica in the race to sign Almada.