Nottingham Forest are gearing up for a high-stakes January transfer window, with head coach Oliver Glasner giving the green light to target 21-year-old Brazilian international midfielder Gabriel Bontempo from Santos.
While Glasner initially resisted Nottingham Forest’s trademark broad-brush recruitment strategy during his first summer in charge, a difficult opening stretch of the Premier League campaign—which yielded just two victories before Saturday’s dramatic 3-1 win over Manchester City—has dramatically shifted the board’s transfer stance.
According to a report by The Telegraph, Forest front-office executives have drawn up a targeted three-man January shortlist, placing Bontempo at the top of their transfer priorities following glowing scouting reports across 2026.
Who Is Gabriel Bontempo? The 21-Year-Old Ancelotti Prodigy
Standing at 5ft 11in, Bontempo is widely considered one of the most dynamic young midfielders in South American football, cementing his status as an indispensable engine room starter for Santos in the Brazilian Série A.
His extraordinary domestic performances earned him a senior Brazil national team debut in September 2026 under head coach Carlo Ancelotti, earning two caps for Seleção before his 21st birthday:
- Positional Versatility: Right-footed and physically robust, Bontempo operates seamlessly as a box-to-box central midfielder, a defensive anchor, or an inverted wide playmaker.
- Tactical Consistency: Known for maintaining a high physical baseline, scouting metrics highlight Bontempo’s rare balance of creative chance creation, press resistance, and defensive tackling.
- The Brazilian Pipeline: If the transfer goes through, Bontempo would become the latest star to join Forest’s booming Brazilian contingent alongside Murillo, Igor Jesus, and weekend goalscoring hero Jair Cunha.
The £15m Catch: Long-Term Contract Presents Negotiation Hurdle
While Forest retain absolute confidence in their ability to integrate South American talent at the City Ground, pulling off a January deal for Bontempo will require significant financial negotiation.
Santos moved aggressively to protect their prized asset in April 2026, tying Bontempo down to a long-term contract extension that runs until December 2030:
- Market Valuation: Despite the long-term contract, sources estimate Bontempo’s current market value to sit around the £15 million mark, making him an affordable option for Forest under Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
- Immediate Impact: With key midfielder Nicolás Domínguez sidelined until 2027 with an eight-week hamstring injury, Bontempo’s immediate arrival would provide much-needed quality and physical depth for Glasner’s engine room.
High-Stakes January Window Awaits at Trentside
As Forest prepare to return from the international break against Bournemouth on Saturday, November 21st, Glasner’s strategy is clear: reinforce the squad with elite, versatile talent capable of sustaining top-flight intensity.
If Evangelos Marinakis and the Forest board trigger a formal £15m bid when the transfer window opens on January 1st, landing Bontempo could prove to be the ultimate mid-season catalyst to propel the Reds up the Premier League table.
