Forget Shelvey: Two forgotten Nottingham Forest players Leeds United need to chase instead – View
Leeds United have been linked with an intriguing move to sign forgotten Nottingham Forest outcast Jonjo Shelvey this summer as Daniel Farke eyes midfield investment.
The Whites still need signings in a host of positions this summer, and the recent sale of Tyler Adams to Bournemouth might give them the chance to start investing more heavily.
TEAMtalk have reported that their attempts to bolster the midfield could take them to Nottingham Forest, as they have asked about the availability of Jonjo Shelvey.
The 31-year-old is one of a fair few at the City Ground with their future best served elsewhere, but Shelvey isn’t one of the players that Leeds should be looking to take from Steve Cooper’s bloated squad.
Here, we look at two other players cast out from the Forest squad that would be much better signings…
Not many fans would be happy at all if Leeds came away from talks with Forest by signing Shelvey, knowing that there’s another midfielder surplus to requirements right there, waiting for a lifeline and move away.
Lewis O’Brien looks like such a better fit for what Leeds, or most Championship clubs, would want in the middle of the park, bringing superb energy and aggression, while also being adept in possession to progress the ball well under pressure.
Fans will recall that he was strongly linked with the club back in the summer of 2021 while playing and starring for Huddersfield Town, leading to Andrea Radrizzani’s infamous ‘Adam Forshaw’ comment.
O’Brien was loaned out in January to Mateusz Klich’s DC United and will want to build on that stellar period in the MLS by securing another move away from Forest, and for Leeds, it seems like an open goal after he’s not kicked a ball yet this season.
Is Joe Rodon a good signing?
Jonathan Panzo
If Leeds are hoping for more depth at the back, then a swoop for forgotten defender Jonathan Panzo could be worthwhile.
Having featured prominently last season for Coventry City, minutes at the City Ground still aren’t going to be on the cards for the centre-back this season.
£2.5million appears to be the going rate for any club wanting to sign him, and having played around a quarter of his career so far as a left-back, he covers two positions for us.
At this cost, it makes a lot more sense to bring him in over someone who will be taking out a significant chunk of the budget.
