The defender returned to Brighton in January following his loan spell at West Ham United, but his long-term future is now increasingly expected to be resolved in the coming months rather than immediately.
For now, Igor is set to remain in Europe, yet the direction of travel around his situation has shifted, with interest from Brazil growing more structured and proactive.
Clubs in his homeland are now reportedly attempting to organise the financial conditions required to satisfy Brighton, rather than waiting for negotiations to develop later in the window.
Palmeiras were among the first to explore a potential move earlier this year, making initial enquiries before stepping back due to the overall cost of a deal. Cruzeiro, his former club, have also shown interest but have faced the same obstacle.
Brighton’s stance has remained consistent throughout. The Premier League side are understood to be pushing exclusively for a permanent transfer this summer and are not entertaining the idea of another loan move.
There has also been some variation in reported valuations. Earlier suggestions placed Igor’s price tag at around £6m (€7m), but more recent claims from Brazil indicate Brighton are now seeking closer to £10m (€12m) for a full transfer.
That difference has not deterred interest, but it does underline the financial challenge facing potential suitors in the Brazilian market.
While no agreement is close at this stage, the expectation is that Igor’s future will become a key talking point once the summer window opens, with Brighton holding firm on their valuation and Brazilian clubs now assessing whether they can meet it.