Leeds United should have sealed a deal for Sporting Lisbon defender Tobias Figueiredo – but instead he’s starring at Championship rivals Nottingham Forest.
With Tobias Figueiredo leaving Sporting Lisbon for a chance in England during the January transfer window, Elland Road looked like the obvious destination.
As reported by Desporto ao Minuto in December, Leeds United had made an enquiry about signing the Portuguese U23 centre-back, who had barely featured all season under Sporting boss Jorge Jesus and needed to leave the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
And Figueiredo did indeed move to England in the New Year – but not with Leeds.
Instead, the highly-rated defender joined Championship rivals Nottingham Forest on a loan deal which, according to Record, the East Midland giants could make permanent for £2 million come the end of the season.
Based on early performances, £2 million would be a snip for a player who has made a really big impact at the City Ground. Figueiredo has started each of Forest’s last four Championship games and, in that time, Aitor Karanka’s side have picked up eight points and conceded just three goals.
Forest’s defence has been their Achilles heel for a number of years but, in just a few weeks, Figueiredo’s addition already appears to have gone some way to solving the problem, and he has wasted no time in becoming a real fans’ favourite too.
It looks like Leeds have missed out on a real coup, and if the 3-0 collapse at Middlesbrough on Friday is anything to go by, Paul Heckingbottom could have done with Figueiredo.
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