With Leeds United taking an interest – and reportedly looking to reunite Daniel Farke with the £11 million man at Elland Road – his omission from the most recent matchday squad surely will not have gone unnoticed.
A central defender appears to be the Championship leaders’ top priority this month.
Leeds reportedly want Nico Elvedi from Borussia Monchengladbach, while there have also been ambitious links with Ligue 1 duo Christopher Wooh of Rennes and Abdukodir Khusanov of RC Lens.
Now, both Gladbach and Lens would obviously rather keep Elvedi and Khusanov until the summer, given their importance to both club’s respective ambitions. On the subject of the Leeds United-linked Omobamidele, however, it seems unlikely that Nottingham Forest would force the Republic of Ireland international to stay at the Premier League surprise-packages against his will.
Especially after Omobamidele was nowhere to be seen in Nuno Espirito Santo’s matchday squad once again for Monday’s 3-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Leeds United linked Andrew Omobamidele will be let go by Nottingham Forest
An £11 million signing from Norwich City, Omobamidele has played only once this season, and in the EFL Cup to boot. And while the defender has struggled with injury, the 22-year-old has found it tough forcing his way into Nuno’s plans even when fully fit.
Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato and Willy Boly are all ahead of Omobamidele in the pecking order.
At Leeds, meanwhile, centre-back depth is not really the club’s strong point. Farke has only three natural, senior centre-halves at his disposal, not including the versatile Ethan Ampadu.
Though, speaking last week, the German indicated that Leeds will have to strike a difficult balance in the transfer market. The importance of adding depth to their ranks balanced against the problems which could arise with too many players fighting for the same position.
“I don’t like when the group is too big,” Farke told BBC Radio Leeds.
“Once everyone is fit and you have four players for one position, it could also be negative for the spirit and the togetherness.
“If you are forced to do something due to injuries or something is really missing in the group, then you have to react but when you’re sitting at the top of the table – there can’t be too much wrong.”
Omobamidele likened to former Leeds ace Rio Ferdinand
It was Farke who handed Omobamidele his debut in Norwich’s defeat to Arsenal a couple of seasons ago. Farke described the Nottingham Forest misfit as an ‘outstanding’ talent at the time, while comparisons were also drawn in his younger days with a baby-faced Rio Ferdinand.
The Sun reported a few days ago that Leeds had opened talks with Nottingham Forest. Championship title rivals Sheffield United are also in the race, with the team sitting third in the Premier League table looking to bring in around £10 million.
“A really, really exciting footballer,” Irish coach Vinny Perth told Off the Ball of Omobamidele back in 2021. “He is so comfortable on the ball. I hate giving players tags, but he looks like a young Rio Ferdinand.
“He is so calm on the ball, so assured on the ball, his passing range is excellent.”
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
