John Textor slammed for Derby County transfer plan involving Botafogo - he has "already pleased" Evangelos Marinakis | OneFootball

Derby County have been linked with the signing of two Botafogo players amid John Textor takeover talks

Former Botafogo president Carlos Augusto Montenegro has hit out at John Textor’s transfer plan involving Derby County - which includes bringing two highly-rated youngsters to Pride Park.

The American businessman has become a controversial figure in Brazilian football due to his actions as the owner of the South American club.

Botafogo are part of his multi-club ownership group under the name of Eagle Football Group, along with French giants Lyon and Belgian team RWDM Brussels.

It was reported that the 60-year-old is looking to move two players to the Rams if he's successful in his takeover pitch, as rumours over his interest in the East Midlands outfit reach fever pitch.

Textor is seeking a deal to purchase the Championship side, with it being claimed a £60 million takeover is in the works.

John Textor’s Derby County transfer plans criticised

Ex-Botafogo president Montenegro has criticised Textor for his plans to move players from the Brazilian club to Derby, claiming it is a similar tactic he used with Nottingham Forest in an attempt to earn favour with their owner Evangelos Marinakis.

He believes that he wants to send the Brazilian club’s four best players to the Rams, amid speculation that he is seeking a takeover at Pride Park.

"Textor seems to be looking to buy a team in England, and he has a habit of trying to please the owner (of the club) when he wants to buy something,” Montenegro, via leaked audio obtained by Globo.

“He has already pleased the owner of Nottingham Forest and sent Jair, Igor (Jesus), Cuiabano, John.

“They all went there, took them, and then the owner (Marinakis) gave them the finger.

“He wanted to do the same thing now.

“He wanted to take our four best players to a team called Derby, I don't know (Derby County).

“It's a team he wants to buy.

“[Club president] João Paulo put the brakes on it.

“They can only leave with our (social club) authorisation.”

Whilst claims have been made by Montenegro that Textor wants to take Botafogo's four best players with him if his Derby takeover is a success, Alan Nixon has reported that two individuals are on the American's radar - but both are emerging talents.

Panamanian striker José Kadir Barría is one of those of interest, despite only joining the club in August, but he has had a first-team breakthrough already, scoring twice in four Brazilian top flight appearances.

And if Textor gets his way, Barría would be joined by Colombian midfielder Jordan Barrera, who is another summer arrival at the Estadio Nilton Santos - the attacking midfielder has played just three times for his new side so far, but he has been capped 17 times for his country's under-20's team.

Derby are enjoying a strong run of form in the Championship, with John Eustace’s side winning six of their last seven games.

This streak of victories has moved the Rams up to eighth in the table, just one point adrift of the play-off places and four behind second place Stoke City.

The club will be hoping to maintain this run and compete for promotion to the Premier League this season, with Middlesbrough next up for the Rams this coming weekend.

Controversy follows John Textor wherever he goes - Derby County may be better off avoiding

Textor is an unpopular figure at Lyon, and it was his links with the French club that cost Crystal Palace a place in this season’s Europa League.

This latest incident involving Botafogo is just more evidence to suggest controversy follows the American wherever he goes, and he may be better off being avoided by Derby County and current owner David Clowes.

Supporters will be wondering if that kind of personality is what they want running their club, especially given the depths they fell to in the recent past due to bad ownership.

Clowes has done well to steady the ship, and it’s not entirely surprising that he is now seeking an exit, given he perhaps has a limited amount of funds compared to Textor, but the arrival of American has the potential to be a total disaster for the Championship side.