Nottingham Forest make Morato transfer decision - journalist
Roma are reportedly keen on signing Nottingham Forest defender Morato on loan before the summer window ends next week.
Oliver Glasner is reshuffling his squad before the 1 September deadline after a tough start to the season for his new Forest side.
They have succumbed to successive home defeats to Leeds in the last four days, first in the Premier League and then in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
Morato has failed to appear in either matchday squad, leading to doubts around his future in the East Midlands.
The Brazilian centre-back has been linked away from the club this summer after Ousmane Diomande arrived from Sporting CP to push him down the defensive pecking order.
He has now emerged onto the radar of Serie A giants Roma, according to Gianluca Di Marzio, with the onus now on Forest to decide if he should be loaned out in the next six days.
Morato emerges as loan option for Roma as Jan Ziolkowski makes move
Morato joined Forest for a reported £12.6million from Benfica in 2024, and made 29 appearances in his maiden season at the City Ground.
The 25-year-old played 37 times across all competitions last term, featuring heavily in their run to the Europa League semi-finals.
He played in four pre-season friendlies ahead of this season, but has not even found a place on the bench and is now being targeted by Roma.
Di Marzio claims that the capital club "is among the names being considered" to replace the outgoing Ziolkowski, who was linked to Forest earlier in the summer but is set to join Monza on loan.
They are considering making a loan offer for the 25-year-old and want to sign a new defender before letting the Polish international leave.
Stats show that Forest may regret Morato sale over Jair Cunha
It remains to be seen if Forest look to replace Morato after potentially letting him leave, with sources revealing to Football Insider that Evangelos Marinakis plans to back Glasner with a late signing spree this week.
The 25-year-old has been on the periphery this season, but PL stats from last term show that he would surely be a better option to keep around than fellow Brazilian Cunha.
Morato won more ground and aerial duels per 90 minutes than Cunha in the top flight last term, while he also lost possession fewer times and was more of a threat in the final third.
He also made more tackles, clearances and blocks per 90 than the 21-year-old, and was dribbled past fewer times.