Nottingham Forest are set to make their 24th signing of the season as Palmeiras star Gustavo Scarpa flies in to seal the free transfer

NOTTINGHAM FOREST finalize a deal to bring Gustavo Scarpa to the City Ground after the player left Brazilian club Palmeiras.

Scarpa arrived in England on Friday and will become the club’s 24th signing since the end of last season.

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He has signed a preliminary contract and will be available when the window opens next month.

The midfielder has agreed to join Forest on a free transfer as his contract with Palmeiras expires at the end of the year.

Scarpa, 28, was with the Sao Paulo side for four years – he has played 211 games and is set to sign a three and a half year deal with Steve Cooper’s side.

Last month he won the Golden Ball in Brazil – and skateboarded onto the stage to collect his trophy.

Scarpa said: “I’m very happy, very excited. I know it will be difficult because of the Premier League itself – but also because of Nottingham Forest’s current situation.

“But it’s a dream come true. I think it’s cool to make dreams come true – because this inner child still lives in me.”

Forest sat in the relegation zone as the Prem season went into the World Cup break.

They signed a remarkable number of players in the summer window after returning to the top flight for the first time since 1999.

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Still, they got off to a disastrous start to the season, picking up just six points in their first 11 games.

However, just before the winter break, Cooper’s men began to find some form.

They took seven points from four league games before the mid-season break, including victories over Liverpool and Crystal Palace.

That leaves them in 18th place, one point behind safety.

Forest also secured their place in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup with an impressive 2-0 win over Tottenham.