GOOD NEWS; Nottingham Forest to sign Jota Silva from Vitoria de Guimaraes

With qualification for European football on the line, the manager might have hoped that his press pre-match conference would focus solely on the task facing his side on Thursday night.

Then again, to expect that those Nottingham Forest links would not be addressed in any capacity would be naive in the extreme.

And, as anticipated, it did not take long before the City Ground subject was brought up this Wednesday afternoon.

HITC understands that Nottingham Forest are closing in on a deal that would bring Jota Silva to England from Vitoria de Guimaraes.

The winger will set Nuno Espirito Santo’s side back just £6 million, Forest getting a bargain in a two-time Portugal international who scored 15 goals last season, has a £17 million release clause, and narrowly missed out on Roberto Martinez’s Euro 2024 squad.

HITC reports that Jota Silva – who had also been under consideration by Wolves, Brighton, Leicester City and Celtic – is dreaming of a chance in the Premier League which now looks destined to present itself in the East Midlands.

Nottingham Forest to sign Jota Silva from Vitoria de Guimaraes

Nuno’s gain, meanwhile, will be Rui Borges’ loss.

“I prepared for the game with everyone, regardless of whether Jota could leave or not,” the Vitoria coach tells O Jogo, his press conference dominated by the forward’s future rather than tomorrow’s Europa Conference League qualifier with Maltese outfit Floriana.