Ipswich Town face Leif Davis exit threat after new Nottingham Forest reveal | OneFootball

Leif Davis is on the Reds' radar as Ipswich prepare to return to the second-tier

Premier League high-flyers Nottingham Forest are plotting a move for Ipswich Town left-back Leif Davis following the Tractor Boys' relegation back to the Championship, according to a new report.

The Tractor Boys' efforts to survive in their first top-flight campaign in 22 years have ultimately been in vain, after their drop back to the second-tier was confirmed with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United last month, with four games still to play.

Planning will no doubt have already begun for life back in the Championship under Kieran McKenna, but the popular boss may potentially have to do without one of his main men in Davis next season amid reports of Forest's interest as they chase Champions League qualification.

Ipswich's Leif Davis linked with Nottingham Forest move

Newcastle-upon-Tyne-born Davis came through the ranks at Leeds United as a youngster, and made his professional debut for the Whites in 2018 at just 18-years-old.

He joined Ipswich in the summer of 2022, following a loan spell at AFC Bournemouth, and he has emerged as one of the EFL's best full-backs over the last few seasons at Portman Road, while helping McKenna's side achieve unlikely back-to-back promotions into the Premier League for this season.

The 25-year-old has impressed for Ipswich throughout their return to the top-flight, but has been unable to help save them from an immediate relegation back to the Championship.

He is set to be on the radar of numerous Premier League sides this summer, as a result, and TWTD have reported that Nottingham Forest are keeping tabs on his services ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

The East Midlands outfit were previously believed to be tracking the pacey left-back in January 2024, while he was lighting up the second-tier, and now look to have reignited their interest in him with European football on offer following an outstanding season under Nuno Espírito Santo.

Davis would be a big loss for Ipswich - it would take a sizeable fee to sign him this summer

Davis' outstanding performances in the Championship in 2023/24 saw him named in the PFA's divisional Team of the Year, as he registered a whopping 21 assists in 43 league appearances while Ipswich won a surprising automatic promotion to the top-flight.

He has understandably not been as effective from left-back in the Premier League throughout this term, but has still been one of the Tractor Boys' better players during their struggles as a team.

At 25-years-old, he is clearly a talent that has the potential to get even better, hence the apparent transfer interest, but given that he signed a fresh contract extension at Portman Road last October to tie him down to the club until 2028, Ipswich will feel like they are in a strong position to retain his services this summer.

The Tractor Boys' chiefs will be able to demand a sizeable fee for Davis in the coming months, but even so, Forest could well be in line to earn extra prize money from finishing in the top five of the top-flight to earn Champions League qualification, and so may well focus their attention on the ex-Leeds man to bolster their squad ahead of their extra games next season.

Davis himself has recently spoken of his aims for next term in the Championship, so he clearly doesn't have a move away from East Anglia at the forefront of his mind as yet, but a move to a team that is competing in Europe and near the top of the Premier League would surely appeal if Forest's interest turns into a concrete approach.