In one of the most unexpected and fast-moving sagas of the summer transfer window, Nottingham Forest are rapidly closing in on the signing of Racing Santander midfielder Gustavo Puerta. The dramatic turnaround comes after weeks of frustration for owner Evangelos Marinakis, whose multi-club ownership model has orchestrated a brilliant workaround to secure a prized South American target.
Reports from Colombian journalist Pipe Sierra and fellow insider Pablo Oliveira indicate that the 23-year-old is already en route to England, with a private chartered flight scheduled to land in Nottingham at 12:30 pm on Monday to finalize the high-profile switch.
The Dramatic U-Turn After Benfica Disappointment
The sudden breakthrough follows a turbulent few weeks regarding the player’s immediate future. Earlier in August, it became public knowledge that Marinakis—who owns both Nottingham Forest and Greek giants Olympiacos—had identified Puerta as a premier target to bolster his footballing network.
At the time, Forest triggered the midfielder’s €16 million (approximately £13.8 million) release clause at Racing Santander. However, the pursuit appeared dead in the water late last week after Marinakis publicly admitted defeat, confirming that the Colombian youth international had rejected a move to Greece in favor of joining Portuguese powerhouse Benfica.
Frustrated by the limitations placed on Greek football by UEFA coefficient rankings, Marinakis conceded that top-tier young prospects often view the Super League as a stepping stone rather than a destination.
Marinakis’ Masterstroke: Forest Signing Followed by Olympiacos Loan
Demonstrating remarkable persistence, Marinakis and his recruitment group refused to give up, pivoting to make Puerta their absolute top priority in the final hours of the window.
Instead of asking the player to move directly to Greece, Forest have offered the midfielder a permanent contract to join the Premier League club. Crucially, as part of the agreement engineered by the ownership group, Puerta will immediately be sent out on a season-long loan to Olympiacos.
This clever structure satisfies all parties. Puerta gets the prestigious Premier League backing and financial security of signing for an English top-flight club, while simultaneously securing regular first-team minutes and the opportunity to showcase his immense talent on the European stage in the UEFA Europa League with Olympiacos.
Medicals and Final Details as the Deadline Looms
According to journalist Pablo Oliveira, logistics are already locked in motion. Puerta is set to undergo a rigorous series of medical examinations upon arrival in England before putting pen to paper on his permanent contract with Oliver Glasner’s side, immediately prior to rubber-stamping his temporary switch to Greece.
For Nottingham Forest, securing a talent of Puerta’s caliber—even with the immediate loan arrangement—highlights the ambitious scope of Marinakis’ multi-club operation. As the transfer window enters its final, frantic hours, this ingenious late-window coup could prove to be one of the shrewdest and most creative pieces of business completed this summer.
