‘Outstanding’ 23-year-old may be Nottingham Forest’s first January signing

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Sao Paulo are struggling to tie Igor Gomes down to a new contract as Nottingham Forest weigh up whether or not to bring the so-called ‘new Kaka’ to the Premier League in 2023, technical director Muricy Ramalho says in quotes reported by ESPN.

Often likened to the one-time Ballon D’Or winner due to his rangy stride and remarkable ball-carrying ability, Igor Gomes could be about to leave one of Brazil’s biggest clubs in a similar manner to Kaka himself all the way back in 2003.

Kaka joined AC Milan for a cut-price fee with just a few months remaining on Sao Paulo his contract. 

Gomes, meanwhile, will be a free-agent in March 2023. And, with Ramalho claiming that the Brazil U23 international is determined to ensure Sao Paulo do not lose one of their prized assets for absolutely nothing, a January departure feels very much on the cards.

Nottingham Forest like Igor ‘new Kaka’ Gomes

“Igor Gomes is a great Sao Paulo player. And he doesn’t want to leave Sao Paulo without leaving something on the financial side, just like Kaka did at the time,” explains Ramalho, indicating that the 23-year-old could leave in January before his contract expires.

“That’s worth a lot to me. Now, it’s hard for you to renew because the values are very high.

“This kid is outstanding, as a person, as a professional. I know the fans say that it doesn’t matter, but it does. Just by saying that, you can see the character that the guy has. He is a player that we respect a lot inside (the club).”

Per Jorge Nicola, Nottingham Forest showed an interest in Gomes, who turned down a loan move to West Ham last year, before the close of the summer window. An agreement was always more likely to take place in the New Year, however; the one-time Liverpool target hoping to make his mark on the other side of the Atlantic.

It remains to be seen whether Gomes would immediately form part of Steve Cooper’s squad. Or whether he would be loaned out to Olympiakos; a la Josh Bowler and Hwang Ui Jo.