Forest now "leading the race" to sign "remarkable" 6ft2 monster, he's a Davis upgrade - opinion

Nottingham Forest are now looking to the transfer window to strengthen their team ahead of their new chapter in the Premier League, and a reliable journalist has given an update on the club’s pursuit of a potential target.

According to Sunday Mirror Sports news editor Darren Witcoop, Nottingham Forest are “leading the race” to sign Lucas Joao.

Witcoop tweeted:

“Reading resigned to losing star man Lucas Joao this summer. Nottingham Forest leading the race for the Portuguese striker. Watford also in the hunt for his signature.”

Nottingham Forest will be in the market for a striker this summer as loanee striker Keinan Davis will return to parent club Aston Villa, but they could be about to sign a massive upgrade on their current number nine as Joao has been much more prolific in front of goal.

Davis scored five goals and contributed two assists this season in 15 Championship appearances, but was only part of the team on a six-month loan.

Joao, however, has been a goal machine for Reading over the last three years scoring 38 times and contributing 14 assists in 83 appearances, with a goal contribution every 116 minutes, proving that he could add a real attacking threat for Forest in the striker role next season.

It’s not just his goals and assists that have caught the attention of Forest, as the 28-year-old has been a force in all areas of his game this season in the Championship winning 4.7 duels and proving successful in the large majority of his dribbles (63%), according to SofaScore.

The 6 foot 2 forward was hailed by former teammate Jose Semedo, who was full of praise for the striker after Joao’s international debut for Portugal.

Semedo told BBC Radio Sheffield: “He’s remarkable. I don’t remember any other player