Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo plans to strengthen his team during the 2025 summer transfer window, following their European qualification last season.
Given their strong performance in the 2024/25 season, Forest are considered genuine contenders for the Conference League title.
Santo has expressed interest in various potential signings, such as Yunus Musah and Lukas Ullrich, but one particular Serie A player seems to be linked more frequently.
Latest on Nottingham Forest’s Interest in Timothy Weah
According to widespread reports earlier this month, including from transfer insider Gianluca Di Marzio, Forest reportedly showed interest in signing Timothy Weah this summer.
Juventus were reportedly asking for only £12m for Weah if they decided to sell, which seemed like a potentially good deal for Forest.
Last season, the American forward made 43 appearances for the Italian club, contributing six goals and five assists.
In league matches, his goal conversion rate was an impressive 24%. He also created four big chances and averaged 0.6 key passes per match.
He was utilized in several roles last season, primarily on the right wing, an area the Midlands club is looking to reinforce.
However, after intensifying their efforts to sign the former Celtic loanee, journalist Ben Jacobs reported on Friday that Forest withdrew from negotiations, even though a deal was considered `close`, after conducting `extensive data analysis`.
Consequently, the club from the City Ground may need to consider other targets, and one Brazilian player appears to be on their shortlist.
Why Pepe Would Be a Strong Signing for Nottingham Forest
According to ESPN this week, four Premier League teams, including Forest, have initiated discussions to sign Porto winger Pepe this summer.
Forest is among the interested clubs, alongside Aston Villa, Fulham, and Burnley. Their qualification for Europe under Santo suggests they could be strong contenders for his signature.
| Pepe`s League Statistics for Porto | |
|---|---|
| Goals | 3 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Big chances created | 5 |
| Key passes per game | 1 |
| Successful dribbles per game | 0.6 |
| Shots per game | 1 |
| Via Sofascore | |
The asking price is reportedly £21m, which seems well within the Midlands club`s budget.
Although Weah might be less expensive, Pepe is arguably the more talented player. The dynamic Brazilian winger recorded a notable 11 goal contributions in all competitions last season.
Comparing their domestic statistics from last season highlights Pepe`s more productive performance. He had more shots per 90 minutes (1.36 vs 1.15), more shot-creating actions (2.71 vs 1.98), more goal-creating actions (0.36 vs 0.16), and significantly more touches in the opponent`s penalty area (79 vs 35), demonstrating his effectiveness in these key attacking areas.
South American football expert Tim Vickery praised the winger when he was linked with Tottenham Hotspur a couple of seasons ago, describing him as:
“I definitely remember him as a winger at Gremio, a little `mosquito` type who can play on either side.”
His versatility across both wings would offer valuable tactical flexibility to Santo, particularly in managing potential injuries.
It`s evident that the manager seeks players with proven track records on significant stages. Given his goals in the Champions League, Copa Libertadores, and Europa League, plus earning two caps for Brazil, Pepe would represent a superb acquisition.
