The summer transfer window is a curious beast. Just when you think you have a handle on the market's direction, a twist emerges from the mist. Step fo...
The summer transfer window is a curious beast. Just when you think you have a handle on the market's direction, a twist emerges from the mist. Step forward Nottingham Forest, who according to GoalZaza have joined the race for Fiorentina's right back, Dodo. The Brazilian appears to be packing his bags in Florence, and the Premier League side have thrown their hat into what was, until recently, a ring dominated by Napoli.Let's be clear about what Dodo offers. He is not your typical defensive stalwart who parks the bus and dares you to get past him. He is a modern full back in the truest sense, a bundle of energy who loves to bomb forward and stretch the opposition's low block. His natural habitat is the final third, overlapping and delivering crosses with a whip that can cause chaos in any box. For a team like Forest, who have often relied on counter attacking verve, adding a player with his transitional instincts could be a masterstroke. But is he the right fit for a side that, let's be honest, still looks a bit wobbly at the backThe interest from Napoli is hardly a surprise. Antonio Conte demands his wing backs to be engines, and Dodo fits that bill perfectly. His tactical flexibility means he can operate in a back four or as a more advanced wide man in a three centre back system. That versatility is gold dust in modern football. But Forest's entry changes the arithmetic entirely. They can offer Premier League wages and the promise of regular football, but can they offer European football Napoli can. That is the squeaky bum question that Dodo and his representatives will be pondering this summer.From a Forest perspective, this feels like a statement of intent. They are no longer just shopping in the bargain bin. They are targeting established Serie A talent. But here is the rub: Dodo's defensive discipline has been questioned in Italy. He can be caught napping in transition, caught up the pitch when a counter breaks. If Forest's midfield does not shield him properly, he could become a liability. You have to wonder if Nuno Espírito Santo has the tactical structure to compensate for those frailties. It is a gamble, but one that could pay off handsomely if they get the balance right.Fiorentina, for their part, will be rubbing their hands. A bidding war is the sweetest music to a selling club's ears. They want a decent fee, and with two suitors now circling, they might just get it. This is one to keep an eye on, because the winner could land a player who, in the right system, is a genuine difference maker. Or he could be another cautionary tale. That is the beauty of the transfer market, isn't it The risk is part of the thrill.
