Premier League side Nottingham Forest have submitted an offer to sign FC Cincinnati star striker Brenner, sources have told MLSsoccer.com.
Forest’s initial offer is a loan with a purchase clause that will trigger pending performance-based incentives. Cincinnati countered. Negotiations between the two clubs are still ongoing.
On Monday, Brenner conducted his own practice after discussing it with Cincy’s coaching staff, who gave him the green light to do so. Brenner is hoping to move forward with a transfer when the coaches think it’s best not to have him distract in the group. Brenner did not practice Sunday because negotiations were also intense.
The England transfer window closes at 6pm ET (midnight local time) on Tuesday, making negotiations urgent.
Brenner, who turns 23 this month, enjoyed a breakthrough 2022 MLS season, scoring 18 goals and assisting six in 29 appearances (2,061 minutes). He is a former Brazil youth international who originally arrived from Sao Paulo in 2021 for $13 million, one of the most expensive transfer fees in MLS history.
Nottingham are currently 13th in the Premier League but just four points above the relegation zone. After promotion from the Championship (Second Division) last year, strikers Taiwo Awoniyi and Brennan Johnson were their top scorers with 4 goals each.
According to MLSsoccer.com, Italian Serie A side Udinese made an offer to sign Brunner earlier this month, while Eredivisie giants PSV Eindhoven have opted to sign him from Wolverhampton Wanderers (EPL). There was interest in him before signing Fabio Silva.
Before joining Cincy, Brenner broke through to the first team at St Paul’s Academy, where he scored 24 goals and 4 assists in 56 senior appearances. He was linked with a potential outbound move last winter, although Cincy rejected a price-cut offer. Led by a new tech team led by general manager Chris Albright and head coach Pat Noonan, Brenner has just eight goals in 33 games (2,799 minutes) in 2021 and two assists.
Brenner’s pairing with forward Brandon Vazquez was one of the best in the league, helping the Cincy go from Wooden Spoon’s third straight finish (last in MLS) to their first-ever Audi MLS Cup postseason qualifying and winning. Cincinnati also rejected a $7 million transfer offer for Vazquez from Liga MX’s Chivas earlier this winter, as MLSsoccer.com originally reported.
If Brenner stays, he and Cincy are gearing up for their Feb. 25 home opener against the Houston Dynamo (7:30pm ET | MLS season tickets).
