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Club chief sets clear transfer stance on £25m-rated striker as Nottingham Forest circle
Nottingham Forest might have their work cut out to prise away Yuri Alberto from Corinthians, if they decide to pursue their interest in the striker.
Strengthening their attacking resources in January is likely to be on the agenda for the Reds after they did not manage to do so in the summer. And ahead of the transfer window reopening, they have been linked with 23-year-old Alberto.
However, his club have indicated that he is unlikely to go anywhere next year. Augusto Melo, president of Corinthians, has stressed the importance of the front man to Ramon Diaz’s team.
“He (Yuri Alberto) has already shown this, which is why he had the economic rights purchased (in 2023). I'm not worried,” Melo told Brazilian outlet Trivela. “He's a very important player for Corinthians and we'll definitely count on him in 2025.”
Alberto has been in fine form for Corinthians and is said to have caught the eye of several European clubs, including Forest. A potential price tag in the region of £25 million has been mooted, with reports suggesting his current club would be entitled to 50 percent of that amount while former club Zenit hold the other half of his economic rights.
Premier League sides West Ham United, Everton, Newcastle United and Brentford have also been credited with an interest in the forward. Wolverhampton Wanderers had their eye on him earlier in the year and a switch to Southampton reportedly fell through in the summer.
The Reds already have a couple of ex-Corinthians players in their ranks. They bought Murillo from the Brazilian outfit for the bargain price of £11 million little more than 12 months ago and added goalkeeper Carlos Miguel to their squad in the summer.
Alberto is under contract until 2027 and previously admitted he had his eye on a move elsewhere. Asked about the summer interest from the Saints, he said recently: “There was a time where I really wanted (to leave). But we had an internal conversation here. I really appreciate everyone’s support, including the president’s.
“(I stayed) because of the trust everyone had in me. That is very important. Many times, when you are going through a difficult period, you let your guard down a little but these people gave me positive energy.”
Forest looked at a number of potential forward targets in the summer as they sought to add to head coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s options. Unable to get a deal over the line, it would not be a surprise if they try again for a striker at the turn of the year.
