​Nottingham Forest are making serious waves in the summer transfer market. As the club continues to meticulously build a squad capable of competing at the highest level, reports indicate that the Tricky Trees have successfully agreed a deal to sign rising Portuguese star Gustavo Sa from Famalicão.

​The 21-year-old attacking midfielder is set to move to the City Ground in a high-profile package worth £17.1 million. However, in a strategic move mapped out by the club’s hierarchy, the youngster is expected to spend the upcoming 2026-27 campaign sharpening his skills out on loan with Greek giants Olympiacos before officially joining up with the Forest first team long-term.

​Record-Breaking Talent Catching Elite Eyes

​Gustavo Sa’s trajectory in professional football has been nothing short of meteoric. Despite his tender age, the playmaker has already etched his name into the history books as the youngest-ever player to reach 100 appearances in the Portuguese top flight, achieving the milestone at just 21 years, 3 months, and 24 days old.

​Having established himself as a core fixture for Famalicão since the 2022-23 campaign—helping guide the club to an impressive fifth-place finish last term—Sa’s extraordinary ceiling has long been recognized by heavyweights within the game.

​Back in January 2024, former Portugal national team manager Roberto Martinez singled out the youngster’s immense potential during a press conference, praising his raw talent while challenging him to unlock even greater heights. Martinez told Record at the time:

​”I remember that, exactly one year ago, 12 months ago, Gustavo was here beside me at the press conference… He knows that this is not enough. Considering the level he can reach, this is not enough. The demands are very high at all times, and I make a point of having several conversations with him about this because I recognise that he has a lot of ability that he hasn’t yet shown out there… He knows what he has to work on, and I know he wants to reach other clubs and even higher levels than this one.”

​For Nottingham Forest supporters, knowing that an elite tactician like Martinez identified Sa’s superstar potential years ago is enough to generate immense excitement. With the player continuing to develop rapidly since those remarks, securing his signature for £17.1 million could easily look like one of the shrewdest investments of the window.

​Forest’s Ambitious Window Continues

​While the capture of Gustavo Sa highlights Forest’s commitment to securing the best young talent across Europe, the club’s recruitment team is showing no signs of slowing down elsewhere.

​Speculation has intensified regarding a potential move for Chelsea striker Liam Delap, with the Tricky Trees weighing up a high-stakes gamble on the 23-year-old forward. Though Delap endured a difficult, forgettable campaign at Stamford Bridge last season—finding the back of the net just once in the Premier League—pundits and fans alike believe that proper guidance could unlock the lethal goalscoring form he flashed earlier in his career.

​Whether it’s wrapping up the buy-to-loan agreement for Gustavo Sa, closing in on deals for defensive reinforcements like Feyenoord’s Givairo Read, or targeting misfiring stars who are primed for a redemption arc, Nottingham Forest’s owners are pulling out all the stops.

​As the final weeks of the transfer window approach, the City Ground is buzzing with ambition, and fans will be watching eagerly to see how these blockbuster plans unfold on the pitch.