CONFIRMED: Fabrizio Romano confirms Nottingham Forest have now opened talks to sign Brazilian defender as Reds submit opening €25m bid for player

Nottingham Forest have submitted a bid of around €25million (£21.5million) to sign Roma defender Roger Ibanez.

That is according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who claims that Forest have now sent an ‘official bid’ to Roma.

Romano claims that negotiations are ‘underway’ in the hope of reaching an agreement with Forest really pushing to secure a deal.

Wednesday’s 5-0 defeat at the hands of Rennes probably sent alarm bells ringing at the City Ground. Forest need to tighten up defensively and Ibanez is now the top target to try and help Steve Cooper at the back.

This move for Ibanez also comes amid claims from Football Insider that Felipe will miss the start of the season with a knee injury.

Ibanez is now wanted with Forest no doubt hoping to get him snapped up ahead of the Premier League kick off.

Ibanez is just the latest Brazilian to be linked with Forest this summer after Marcos Leonardo, Matheus Nascimento and Arsenal winger Marquinhos.

Ibanez emerged with Fluminense over in Brazil, making 39 first-team games before being plucked by Italian side Atalanta.

The 6ft 1in defender barely featured for Atalanta though and joined Roma on loan in 2020. The move became permanent a year later with Ibanez becoming a key player in the Eternal City.

Ibanez has now turned out nearly 150 times for Roma, bagging nine goals along the way. Ibanez – who has two caps for Brazil – has previously been branded ‘untouchable’ by Roma boss Jose Mourinho.

However, Roma have now signed Evan Ndicka on a free transfer and he seems primed to take Ibanez’s spot on the left side of Mourinho’s back three. That means Roma are willing to cash in on Ibanez, who is naturally right-footed but has shown the ability to play on the left.

Forest will now be hoping that £21.5million is enough to convince Roma to sell, potentially adding Ibanez to the Brazilian contingent at the City Ground.