Almeria are reportedly considering exercising their purchase option on Nottingham Forest midfielder Joao Carvalho.
The Portuguese has spent the season on loan at the Spanish second division side, where he has made 28 appearances in the league, but his long-term future is uncertain.
His form is said to have been mixed, however, local newspaper La Voz de Almeria say he has “regained his smile” following a change in manager, which could have an impact on his future.
Carvalho had fallen out of favour under former boss Jose Gomes, but is described as having been “reborn” since Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia (also known as Rubi) took charge last month.
The report says: “Almeria is studying the possibility of exercising the purchase option on Carvalho so that he is a player in the Almeria team.”
It adds his performances in the remaining games “will be decisive” as the club, currently third in the table, target promotion to the top-flight.
Reds manager Chris Hughton has said he has monitored all players out on loan throughout the season, including Carvalho, saying: “I have kept tabs on them.
“Because of our schedule, what I haven’t been able to do is visually watch the amount of games on tape as I would like to.
“But I’m fully up to speed on their performances and games they’re playing.
“All of them will come into our thinking over the next few weeks and couple of months, as regards what we want to do come the summer and next season.
“But I am very conscious of all of those who are contracted to this club that in theory will be with us on the first day of pre-season, unless otherwise.”
Amid a dip in Carvalho’s form, journalist Nico Garcia, who covers the club for Spanish sports newspaper AS, recently told NottinghamshireLive Almeria would be unlikely to take up their option to buy, unless his performances improved.
He said: “If Carvalho does not improve the level of him shown in recent weeks, Almería will not exercise the purchase option.
“If he shows the level he did in December and January, they may be looking to reach a new agreement, perhaps another transfer, as happened with Fran Villalba.”
But while Forest’s record signing has struggled for consistency this term, La Voz de Almeria say there is no doubt he has quality.
Their report adds: “When Joao Carvalho is on the pitch, there is always that feeling that something can happen on the pitch, because he knows how to handle himself wonderfully near the rival area. (His) passes are usually made of gold; we are talking about a player, sometimes, unfit for the silver category.”
