Nottingham Forest have lodged a £70 million offer with Brentford for Brazilian striker Igor Thiago, according to a report on August 23, 2026 by Italian journalist Rudy Galetti.

The proposed fee would mark a significant statement of intent from a Forest side that has been generating transfer funds through player sales. Brentford signed Thiago from Club Brugge for £30 million just two years ago, meaning Forest's bid values the striker at more than double what the London club paid.

The numbers behind the valuation

Thiago's 2025/26 Premier League campaign was a breakout season. His 22 goals across the campaign placed him second in the league's scoring chart, behind only Erling Haaland. The output marks a sharp turnaround from his first year in England, when a knee injury that required surgery limited his involvement after his arrival from Brugge.

The striker holds dual Brazilian and Bulgarian citizenship, and his prolific form earned him a call-up to the Brazilian national team. He began his European career at Ludogorets Razgrad in Bulgaria in 2022, netting 21 goals in 55 appearances, before moving on to Club Brugge and then Brentford.

Brentford's negotiating position

Thiago remains under contract until 2031. Brentford have reportedly resisted previous approaches, with their valuation consistently sitting at or above the £70 million mark, placing Forest's current bid right at the threshold rather than comfortably above it.

Brentford's stance is consistent with the way the club, under owner Matthew Benham, has done business for years: recruiting undervalued forwards and selling them on at a premium. Ollie Watkins joined Aston Villa in 2020, Neal Maupay moved to Brighton a year earlier, and Ivan Toney left for Al-Ahli in 2024 in a deal reported to be worth up to £40 million, which stands as the club's record sale. A £70 million agreement for Thiago would top all of them.

Forest are not the only suitors. Tottenham, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich have all been linked with Thiago at various points.

Forest's growing ambition

Forest have been generating income through player sales, including the departure of Elliot Anderson, which has opened up funds for a signing of this scale. The sales-driven approach carries particular weight given Forest's recent history with the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules: the club were handed a four-point deduction in March 2024 for breaching those regulations, and compliance requires balancing major outlays against incoming fees. Spending £70 million on a single player would represent a shift in ambition for Nuno Espírito Santo's side.

The bigger picture

Should Brentford eventually accept a bid in this range, it would rank among the largest fees ever paid by Forest and one of the highest sale prices Brentford have commanded. Timing is also a factor, as the Premier League summer window has closed in late August or the first days of September in recent seasons, leaving a narrow window for further negotiation, an improved offer, or a pivot to an alternative target. Neither club has confirmed any agreement, and Brentford's response to the bid has not been disclosed.