Nottingham Forest sign Sporting Lisbon forward Rodrigo Ribeiro on loan with an option to buy the Portugal U19 star this summer

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Sporting Lisbon forward Rodrigo Ribeiro, 18, joins Nottingham Forest on loan in a deal that could become permanent in the summer. 

The Portugal Under-19 international emerged as a target for Nottingham Forest this month, and arrives after a stellar season for both club and country in attack. 

The 18-year-old has four goals in five U19 international friendlies, while he has also found the back of the net twice in 10 appearances for the Sporting youth side in Portugal's 3 Liga. 

He joins a Forest side looking to stave off a relegation battle in the second half of the season after struggling for results and form largely this term. 

New boss Nuno Espirito Santo's side are only two points above the relegation zone on 20, and have only won three games in all competitions in the last 10. 

Nottingham Forest have signed teenager Rodrigo Ribeiro on loan from Sporting Lisbon

The Premier League side have the option to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign

The Tricky Trees have been somewhat short of goals this term, with no player reaching double figures this season. 

Top scorer Chris Wood has found the back of the net on nine occasions, while Taiwo Awoniyi has five and summer signing Anthony Elanga four. 

Primarily played through the middle, Ribeiro will hope to hit the ground running at his new club and try to keep Forest in the Premier League. 

Ribeiro joins Borussia Dortmund's Gio Reyna through the door on loan at the City Ground. 

The United States international arrived on Wednesday until the end of the season from the Bundesliga side, where he was finding minutes hard to come by.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side are dangling precariously just two points above the relegation zone