Fulham and Nottingham Forest are both interested in signing Sao Paulo youngster Pablo Maia, according to reports.
Both the Cottagers and Tricky Trees were promoted to the Premier League earlier this year and are now aiming to establish themselves in the top tier.
Fulham have had by far the better start to the season, gaining 18 points from their first 12 games to lie in seventh place in the rankings.
Despite a historic victory over Liverpool at the weekend, Forest is in last place with just nine points from the same number of games.
Nonetheless, despite having more than two months before the next transfer window, both teams are already planning their signings for 2023.
According to Lance!, the two newly promoted teams have emerged as admirers of Maia, who has proven himself as one of Brazil’s under-rated talents.
The 20-year-old is currently a first-team player at Brazilian giants Sao Paulo despite never having represented his country at the youth level.
Maia has made 18 starts and 10 substitute appearances in Brasileirao Serie A this season, helping his club to eighth place in the rankings.
Maia has mostly been utilised as a defensive midfielder in his professional career, however he can also play in central defence or with more attacking role.
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According to the report, Sao Paulo are ready to consider bids in the area of £8.7m, with Maia’s contract set to expire in September 2023.
That still leaves Tricolor Paulista with only one transfer window in which to negotiate a sale rather than risk a free transfer.
Both Forest and Fulham were active in their acquisitions throughout the summer, with the former bringing in more than 20 new players to strengthen their roster.
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