Jota Silva transfer held up by Nottingham Forest demand but Sporting CP confident of bringing winger back to Portugal a year after Premier League move

According to A Bola, Sporting, who initially proposed a loan with an option to buy Silva, are now prepared to sign him permanently for a fee below Forest’s €15 million (£10m/$18m) valuation. Porto are also interested in the Portuguese forward but Sporting are confident coach Rui Borges can help convince Silva, who wants to return to Portugal after a year in England, having worked with him at Vitoria Guimaraes in 2023-24.

Silva enjoyed a strong 2023-24 season with Vitoria Guimaraes under Borges, scoring 15 goals and registering seven assists in all competitions. His form earned him a Portugal call up from coach Roberto Martinez for matches against Sweden and Slovenia. This rise led Premier League side Nottingham Forest to sign the winger, but he struggled in England, managing just three goals and two assists in the league.

Coach Borges gave little away when asked about the player in a press conference on Wednesday, saying "He's not a club player, I'm not going to talk about him. One thing is certain, we've always been aware of what we want, what we need."

Sporting will aim to complete the deal before Porto can step in for Silva. The striker looks forward to reuniting with Borges, who brought the best out of him two seasons ago, and with the World Cup less than a year away, Silva is eager to secure a place in Portugal’s squad.