Nottingham Forest have decided not to take up a permanent option on on loan Benfica midfielder Diogo Goncalves, it has been reported.

Since joining on a season long loan from the Portuguese giants last summer, Goncalves has started just once in the Championship, making six further substitute appearances in the division, though his most notable contribution appears to be a red card in the League Cup third round victory of Stoke City.

It was reported by  The Nottingham Post when Goncalves joined the club on loan that Forest had the option to make the move permanent for £18 million at the end of the season, which would have made him the club's most expensive ever signing.

That however now appears unlikely to happen, after Portuguese publication Record reported that Goncalves is now likely to return to Benfica, although it is thought that it is unlikely that the 22-year-old's prospects of first-team football will be any better with the current Portuguese league leaders.

The verdict

Forest need to strengthen in the summer if they are to have any aspirations of a push for promotion next season, so this feels like a far from surprising update.

Given what Goncalves has, or indeed hasn't, done since arriving at The City Ground, there are much better options to spend £18 million on.

This will have been a move that excited plenty around the club when it was first announced, but sadly, it just hasn't worked out for either party.