Nottingham Forest defender Tobias Figueiredo has insisted that he does not have plans to return to Portugal in the near future but did concede he wants to make it into the Premier League.

Figueiredo has been a crucial performer for Nottingham Forest so far this season with the defender making 13 appearances and 12 starts in the Championship. During that time he has managed to average 1.3 interceptions, 4.3 clearances and win 4.7 duels per game for the Reds.

The defender has been an integral part of Steve Cooper’s side since he took over as manager from Chris Hughton and he could play a key role in helping the Reds continue their upturn in form during the rest of the campaign as they aim to challenge for a top-six finish.

The 27-year-old is in the final year of his existing deal with Forest and that means that there will need to start to be discussions over this long-term potential future at the City Ground. With the January window approaching there might even be one or two concerns that he might leave so the Reds can avoid losing him on a free transfer.

Speaking to A Bola, via Sport Witness, Figueiredo has insisted that he does not want to return to Portugal in the near future and he is content with life in England. However, he also added that his ambition is to play in the Premier League.

“Between the first and the last, the game is very divided. I feel the Championship is a great showcase. If I had stayed in Portugal, I would only be better if I were playing for the big ones. So it’s not my goal to return, I believe that, at 27, I have that margin to reach the Premier League and see myself alongside Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and all the others. As a child I was a United fan, but in the Premier League any club is good.”

The verdict

It seems by these comments that Forest do have a chance of keeping hold of the defender is they want to do so beyond the end of his current deal. That is because it seems that Figueiredo does not want to return to his native Portugal and instead wants to continue to operate within either the Championship or the Premier League.

Forest might have to potentially secure promotion, which would be unlikely at this stage this season despite their improvements under Cooper, to ensure that they are certain of keeping hold of the 27-year-old in the long-term. That is because he clearly has designs to play at the highest level of English football.

However, you would doubt whether any Premier League teams would have seen enough of Figueiredo at Forest to think he is worth a deal. Having said that, if he can be available on a free transfer then it would not be a gamble that might be worth taking for sides that are currently in the top-flight of English football.