Exclusive: Fulham and Newcastle step up chase of £30m Brazil ace, he likens himself to Vinicius Jr
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Fulham have joined London rivals Brentford in chasing Brazil international striker Igor Jesus ahead of the January transfer window while Premier League duo Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest also made checks this week.
- Exclusive from Graeme Bailey
The successes of Fulham and Brentford under Marco Silva and Thomas Frank is proof that losing your talismanic centre-forward does not necessarily have to spell disaster.
Fulham finished 13th in their first season following Aleksandr Mitrovic’s switch to Saudi Arabia.
With Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson starting the current campaign in fine form, meanwhile – Wilson scored twice as Fulham stunned Brentford with a dramatic stoppage-time comeback – The Cottagers went into the November international break flying high in seventh.
As for Brentford, Bryan Mbuemo and Yoane Wissa have 15 Premier League goals between them in 2024/25. Both players stepping emphatically out of Ivan Toney’s shadow.
But, with TBR having been told that Botafogo frontman Igor Jesus is the subject of interest from the two capital city neighbours, Fulham and Brentford are clearly in no mood to rest on their laurels.
Fulham join Arsenal and Chelsea in Igor Jesus race
TBR reported back in October that Igor Jesus had caught the eye of Arsenal, Brighton and Hove Albion, and Chelsea. Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest also admirers of the 23-year-old hitman.
Alongside Fulham, both Newcastle and Forest made checks on Igor Jesus this week. The former Coritiba man played the first 68 minutes during Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Venezuela in World Cup qualifying on Thursday.
Igor Jesus appears well placed to nail down the number nine role for the five-time World champions. He scored on his Selecao debut against Chile in October and followed that up with an assist during the 4-0 thrashing of Peru.
"He is a player with a very strong mentality," Bernardo Franco, who discovered Igor Jesus as a youngster, told Globo Esporte recently. "Extremely competitive and with a very high work rate. A lot of dedication, and commitment.
"A very simple, humble young man of few words. But, when he steps onto the field, he transforms. He competes for every inch, every ball, he doesn't miss a beat."
Igor Jesus, meanwhile, believes he is similar in style to some of Brazil’s finest widemen, even if he is a centre-forward by trade.
"The national team has a very pacey attack when you look at players like Vinicius, Rodrygo and [Arsenal’s Gabriel] Martinelli," Jesus says. "I think my game is quite similar to theirs.
"I like to try to attack the spaces and I am mobile. I don't just stay in the box. I am capable of holding onto balls played out by the keeper and holding off defenders, which I think helps to ease the pressure on the team in tough passages of play.”
Botafogo want £30m as Newcastle and Nottingham Forest step up interest
Should Fulham win the race, then, Igor Jesus would give The Cottagers a fleet-footed alternative to a 33-year-old Jimenez. TBR have been told that Fulham are keen on Genk giant Tolu Arokodare too, with a striker high on their list of priorities ahead of January.
Brentford, meanwhile, already have one Brazilian striker by the name of Igor. A long-term injury means Igor Jesus is yet to make a single appearance since his club-record £30 million arrival from Club Brugge, meanwhile.
As for Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, Callum Wilson and Taiwo Awoniyi have both endured their own injury issues at times. As such, two of the division’s high-flyers have been forced to rely heavily on the talents of Chris Wood and Alexander Isak.
According to The Sun, a deal for Igor Jesus could cost around £30 million.
TBR understands, meanwhile, that Brentford could look at Celtic’s Nicolas Kuhn if Mbuemo is lured away in the near future.
