Leeds United very keen on Forest gem Brennan Johnson | OneFootball

Leeds United are interested in Brennan Johnson…

What’s the word?

That’s according to The Athletic’s Paul Taylor, who dropped a rather intriguing claim this week as interest in the Nottingham Forest gem hots up ahead of the January transfer window deadline.

The Championship outfit are hoping to keep hold of their young talent but they have planned for life without him.

‘Brentford are in the driving seat. But they could yet face competition from Newcastle, while their fellow Premier League strugglers Leeds are understood to have compiled a lengthy dossier on the seven-cap, Nottingham-born Welshman, with one source telling The Athletic that the Yorkshire club have “known everything down to his inside leg measurement” for some time,’ he wrote.

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‘At the moment, the only concrete bid has come from Brentford.’

He goes onto explain how Forest now value him at £20m, so the Yorkshiremen will need to pay a pretty penny to land him before Monday.

Late move?

As Leeds’ frustrations over a move for RB Salzburg midfielder Brenden Aaronson grow, it would make sense for Victor Orta and co to consider viable alternatives at a similar price.

And that’s what they get in Johnson, but there’s perhaps an even bigger benefit to signing the Forest starlet, seeing as he’s homegrown, and tried and tested in the English game.

During his time in League One last season, the 20-year-old excelled, managing 11 goals and five assists, on top of 0.7 key passes per game under Michael Appleton at Lincoln City.

Such form has earned him a regular spot in the first team, where he has featured as much as anyone in the squad. Only goalkeeper Brice Samba and centre-back Scott McKenna have played more minutes in the Championship this term.

Johnson leads the squad for assists (six) and isn’t far behind for goals scored (seven) either, proving once again to be a key influence in the final third and doing so by playing in a multitude of positions – largely anywhere behind the striker.

That sort of influence has long been lacking at Elland Road and with a mere few days left in the window, Leeds really must consider trying to sign Johnson over Aaronson.

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He is currently the club-record signing...

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Former Reds boss Sabri Lamouchi once dubbed him “an unbelievable player with the right mentality,” whilst ex-loanee Glenn Murray described him as a “special” talent who looks “destined for the top”.

Bielsa does not really have an out-and-out no.10, nor does he have sufficient back up in key attacking areas, so Johnson could be a player that he badly needs right now – their interest in the Salzburg star further highlights that.

On the above evidence, he would be a mighty fine addition to the squad, especially this late in the window.