"Perfect sense for Sheffield United" - Leeds United's Nottingham Forest pursuit played down | OneFootball

Andrew Omobamidele has been linked with Leeds United and Sheffield United in the early stages of the window

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Leeds United are facing a battle with Sheffield United in more ways than one at this moment in time.

Not only are the two Yorkshire rivals vying for a return to the Premier League in the remaining 20 games of the Championship season, but the Whites and the Blades have also seen themselves linked with a potential swoop for Nottingham Forest defender Andrew Omobamidele.

The centre-back is no stranger to United boss Daniel Farke having progressed through the youth ranks at Norwich City during the German's time at Carrow Road, before being handed his senior debut by Farke in January 2021 against Cardiff City.

After making 55 appearances for the Canaries, the Irishman was sold to Forest for a reported £11m fee in September 2023 but has only made 15 appearances for the Reds under Steve Cooper and Nuno Espírito Santo despite the club enjoying a remarkable campaign in the Premier League so far this season.

That has seen Leeds reportedly rekindle their summer interest in the 22-year-old, as Alan Nixon states both they and Chris Wilder's men are currently in the running for the defender, who Forest want to raise a £10m fee for.

With that in mind, FLW asked our Leeds fan pundit, Kris Smith, for his thoughts on this potential signing, which could be a loan-to-buy agreement.

Whilst Smith hasn't fully dismissed the idea of Leeds acquiring the defender who still has plenty of potential to fulfill in his career, he believes that, in the Whites' current predicament, a move to South Yorkshire instead of West would be more beneficial for Omobamidele at this moment, due to United's current centre-back options.

"If Leeds are being really greedy this January, which I don't expect, I wouldn't totally say no to adding a new centre-back to the side," Smith began.

"But, I just don't think it's an area we're going to prioritise at all given the need for an attacking midfielder, potentially another striker and now the goalkeeping question. I just don't think centre-back is an area we need to be concerning ourselves with," he added.

"We have, arguably, the best (centre-back) pairing in the division with Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk," Smith stated. "And, the underlying numbers back that up quite considerably."

"So, I think, to go for Omobamidele, it wouldn't make any sense for the club or the player."

"If Leeds do fancy a centre-back signing and they are prioritising that, I think you're looking at either a young investment that's happy to be third or fourth-choice," he continued. "Or, somebody with experience that's just happy to be a good head in the dressing room and that back-up behind Rodon as a right-sided centre-back, because we've already got Max Wober behind Struijk."

"For the player himself, Sheffield United, for me, looks like a much more viable route to go out and get the playing time that he deserves, and that his talent requires to kick on."

"Obviously, with Harry Souttar being injured and ruled out for the rest of the season, it makes perfect sense for Sheffield United to go for him, whereas he'd be third-choice at Leeds immediately, and that's not what he needs," Smith concluded.

Andrew Omobamidele is more of a necessity for Sheffield United than Leeds United

As Smith alluded to, Sheffield United will feel that the acquisition of Omobamidele on their preferred terms of a loan agreement is much more of a necessity and more beneficial to his overall development than a switch to Elland Road at this moment in time.

This has been echoed by the fact that the Blades have also reportedly expressed an interest in Norwich's Grant Hanley, as they look to fill the major void left behind by the impressive Souttar after his Achilles tendon injury.

Of course, that isn't to say that scenarios may change, as Wober has been linked with a potential return to RB Salzburg, whilst Struijk, who was absent from the 3-3 draw with Hull City with an ankle problem, saw his name crop up alongside Tottenham Hotspur, Wolves and Brighton and Hove Albion before the opening of the January window.

Leeds don't have the greatest depth in the centre of defence, which was evident as Ethan Ampadu filled in for the Dutchman at the MKM Stadium.

So, the signing of Omobamidele wouldn't be the worst option in the world, but it is a case of whether the 10-cap international wants to have a similar role to his current standing at the City Ground and potentially miss out on regular minutes at a vital period of his career.