Nottingham Forest are the surprise package by quite some margin in the Premier League this season. Surpassing the halfway stage, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side sit in third place.
A couple of years ago, Nuno Espirito Santo was being linked with the Leeds job after The Whites sacked Jesse Marsch. Instead, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce came in but the damage had already been done.
Leeds were relegated and Daniel Farke has remained in the hotseat. But while Leeds have been relegated and remain in the Championship, Forest have gone from strength to strength and sit third in the top tier.
Nuno has combined a rock-solid back three with an attack-minded midfield and in-form former Leeds striker Chris Wood up top. On Monday night, they produced a superb display to beat Wolves 3-0 away.
Leeds were on pole position to sign Ola Aina back in 2023
The Forest side is picking itself at the moment. From goalkeeper to attack, Forest fans can quite easily predict the starting XI aside from injuries and suspensions as Nuno gets the best out of his Forest team.
One crucial part of that is Ola Aina. The London-born Nigeria star joined Forest in the summer of 2023 from Torino, enduring an indifferent first season at the City Ground as he managed just 22 appearances.
But this term, Aina has started every single one of Forest’s 20 Premier League games. Mostly at right-back but also covering on the left, Aina has completed 90 minutes on 17 different occasions under Nuno.
Prior to his move to Forest on a free in June 2023, it was reported Leeds were on pole to sign Aina from Torino. However, Leeds and Marsch didn’t do a deal and he is now shining at third-placed Forest.
Full-back remains an issue for Leeds United, even now
The addition of Jayden Bogle seems to have calmed issues on the right side of the defence after the loss of Luke Ayling. Sam Byram is more than adequate as back-up for the former Sheffield United ace.
But at left-back, there are issues. Junior Firpo is set to leave in the summer as things stand with his deal expiring in the summer and Firpo’s camp are now ‘laying the groundwork’ for a permanent Leeds exit.
Isaac Schmidt is yet to win Farke’s trust and Max Wober is naturally a centre-back. Like Firpo, Byram sees his deal expire in the summer and Leeds need a full-back that could perhaps play on both flanks.
Aina would have been the perfect addition had Leeds made a move for the Nigeria star back in January 2023. But Marsch chose not to despite Leeds being on pole, one of many transfer blunders under him.
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