Nottingham Forest price-tag revealed in Leeds United, Sheffield United transfer battle | OneFootball

Highlights

Leeds United go into the final days of this January transfer window still in search of reinforcements ahead of the most crucial period of the Championship season.

Daniel Farke's side have put themselves in with a shout of automatic promotion as we move to within three months of the campaign's conclusion, and whilst the German possesses one of the strongest squads in the division, there is still the urge to bolster a number of positions.

It's been no secret that the main area pinpointed has been the defence, although United have only conceded 26 goals across their 29 league outings to date.

Several full-back and centre-back options have been touted with a move to Elland Road throughout the month of January, and another name has been thrown into that respective hat.

This comes in the form of Nottingham Forest centre-back and current club captain Joe Worrall.

According to Alan Nixon via his Patreon account on Tuesday morning, the Whites have now learned what it would require to prize away the boyhood Forest fan from the City Ground.

Despite being club captain, Worrall has only featured in seven of Forest's league outings this season, with his last appearance coming in the 2-2 draw against Luton Town on October 21st, as well as recently featuring in the two FA Cup games against League One side Blackpool.

It states that Forest have placed a £6m price tag on the 27-year-old amid interest from Leeds and fellow Yorkshire side Sheffield United, who, like Nuno Espírito Santo's side, are in need of new faces to aid their survival bid in the Premier League.

However, the report continues to claim that Chris Wilder's side are unlikely to spend such a fee on the defender, although Worrall is said to be free to leave Forest in what remains of the window to boost their chances of boosting their bleak financial situation.

Leeds are also said to be interested in the man who helped restore Forest's Premier League status back in the 2021/22 season, as they lack cover at centre-back at present through Pascal Struijk's groin injury, and there is no current time frame regarding the Dutchman's return to the side.

But, just like their Yorkshire rivals, it is believed that the only way Worrall would become a Leeds player in the coming days is if a loan deal could be agreed between the two parties if they are unsuccessful in pursuing other targets. Nixon goes on to state that the Whites are also disinterested in a permanent transfer at this stage.

It has also been revealed by TeamTalk that Turkish giants Besiktas have joined this particular race, and have made inquiries regarding the possibility of a deal.

Leeds United and Sheffield United battle for another defender

Worrall isn't the only centre-back which Leeds and Sheffield United find themselves locked in a battle for, with the other being Everton's Ben Godfrey, who is similarly free to leave Goodison Park.

It was revealed on Monday by Football Insider that Everton had rejected an initial loan bid from Leeds for the 26-year-old, despite their eagerness to reduce their own wage bill amid fellow financial difficulties.

However, it has since been stated by Football Transfers in a fresh update on Tuesday morning that Leeds are preparing a fresh bid for Godfrey's services, with Farke extremely keen to push a move through.

This isn't surprising given the duo's previous connections from their time at Norwich City, which included the Championship-winning season of 2018/19, when Godfrey was given his major breakthrough at Carrow Road.

Leeds may hold the advantage in this deal though, as in the aforementioned report from Nixon, it's claimed that Godfrey's wages - an estimated £75,000 per week - are beyond the Blades' current spending plans.