Silva is set to join Sporting CP after the Portuguese club made a formal loan bid with a performance-based option to buy.

According to Portuguese publication A Bola, Forest are expected to accept the deal, with the 26-year-old set to turn down an offer from Premier League rivals Leeds United in preference of returning to his birthplace.

• AFP

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Silva would chose Champions League football with Sporting over the opportunity to stay in England with Leeds.

  The player is allegedly looking forward to working again with manager Rui Borges and competing for the Portuguese title.

  Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis had initially sought a permanent transfer for the €7 million signing last summer, but is now thought to be content with the structured loan deal for a player who has fallen out of favour under Nuno Espirito Santo.

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Superagent Jorge Mendes is arranging the transfer, which now awaits final permission from Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. However, with the player interested in the move and the clubs nearing an agreement, the transaction is expected to be finalised before the transfer window ends. Jota Silva has only played 17 minutes for Forest in the Premier League this season.

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