It is no secret that Leeds United boss Daniel Farke prefers to work with a pretty small squad.
So, while high quality reinforcements will always be welcome at Elland Road, it feels unlikely that Farke is going to start making demands for new additions in what he accepts is likely to be a ‘quiet’ transfer window at Elland Road.
The size of Nottingham Forest’s roster, meanwhile, would be enough to send the Leeds United boss loopy.
While the Premier League surprise packages have not been quite as active in the market as previously – no fewer than 30 players arrived in their first few months after promotion back to the Premier League in 2022 – Forest still have the luxury of being able to call upon the likes of James Ward-Prowse, Alex Moreno and Taiwo Awoniyi from the substitute’s bench these days.
And, while his loan deal from West Ham United is not exactly going to plan, at least Ward-Prowse is making the matchday squad these days.
In contrast, Andrew Omobamidele has not played a minute of Premier League football throughout 2024/25. And while the former Norwich City defender has had his struggles with injury, Omobamidele could not buy a start even when fully fit and available under Nuno Espirito Santo.
With Murillo, Morato, Willy Boly and Nikola Milenkovic all calling the City Ground home, the Republic of Ireland international is, at best, Nottingham Forest’s fifth-choice central defender.
Leeds United keen on Nottingham Forest’s Andrew Omobamidele
Forest not stand in his way, then. Leeds United opened talks to reunite Farke with Andrew Omobamidele at the start of January.
And while there is also interest from promotion rivals Sheffield United, the Farke factor could yet play a major role in Omobamidele‘s thinking.
It was the Leeds boss who handed the 22-year-old his senior debut at Carrow Road, after all. Mid-season moves often carry a degree of risk, both for the club and the player, but Omobamidele should find adapting to life in Yorkshire easier than most given his prior knowledge of Farke’s methods.
And, in a move that should push Omobamidele further out of the door, Brazilian publication Revista Colorada now claim that Nottingham Forest have opened discussions to bring Vitao to English football from Internacional.
Reportedly a long-time target of the two-time European Champions, Vitao is likely to be available for around £8 million. That is the fee Real Betis would have paid over the summer, only for an agreement with Internacional to fall through due to the financial constraints on the La Liga outfit.
Don Goodman has concerns over Omobamidele at Elland Road
Reportedly valued at £10 million, Omobamidele would bring plenty of Championship experience to Elland Road, while adding some much-needed defensive depth to a side with only three natural, senior centre-halves at their disposal.
“Daniel Farke knows Andrew Omobamidele,” former Sunderland, West Brom and Wolves striker Don Goodman says, expressing reservations about a potential switch to Elland Road. “He was a decent Championship defender at Norwich.
“However, he’s not cut it at Nottingham Forest and I’m not sure whether he’s an upgrade on what Leeds United have currently got and whether they really need him for depth.
“[But] it is an interesting link. Daniel Farke knows him better than I do, and if Omobamidele does sign it will be down to the manager knowing what he’s capable of.”
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