Leeds United have made mistakes with transferring players out too soon, as have numerous other football clubs all over the country.
Signing young players and developing them before a big-money exit is how club’s can operate smartly, giving themselves a boost financially with the fee received; Chelsea and Man City have become the gold standard on that front.
Leeds United pride themselves on their ability to develop talented youngsters through their academy, but not all of them ended up being of good value to them in the short or indeed the long-term.
Leif Davis is an example of this, given that he was either utilised too infrequently or sold too early. He is now a player with serious Premier League interest following his first full campaign at the level last season.
Former Leeds United man Leif Davis eyed up by Nottingham Forest
Ipswich Town swooped for Davis from Leeds under Kieran McKenna’s tutelage. It is there that he has remained since after he was sold for below £1.5 million under Jesse Marsch.
Davis has improved enormously since leaving Leeds, so much so that Davis led the creative Premier League stats at one stage last season
| Games played | 123 |
| Goals | 6 |
| Assists | 34 |
West Ham United have previously had Davis interest but there has since been further Premier League interest named, with top flight clubs eyeing the Championship left-back again.
TalkSPORT’s Alex Crook has outlined Nottingham Forest interest in Davis and he claims that they are lining up a bid for the Ipswich defender.
This comes after Mike McGrath revealed a number of Premier League sides are interested in the left-back on Thursday, prior to Ipswich’s 1-1 draw with Birmingham City on Friday night.
Barry Douglas is backing Davis for England recognition in the future, such has been his rapid rise in recent seasons. The 25-year-old has become one of the most attack-minded English full-backs since uniting with McKenna.
Leif Davis explains decision to leave Leeds United for Ipswich Town
Davis feels as though he was right to leave Leeds when he did. Previously, he said: “I always felt confident that I was making the right move, even if it was two leagues down at the time I joined.
“I was 100 per cent right to make the move and I’ve never regretted it.
“I’m not just happy here, I’m very grateful to the club for bringing me here and I will always do whatever I can for them.”
Despite some question marks over his defensive capabilities, Davis could be a weapon in the right system. He can be a flying full-back but as a wing-back in Forest’s team? He could thrive.
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