Victor Orta has told Spanish newspaper Marca that he tried to raid Nottingham Forest and sign Brennan Johnson for Leeds – when he was just 16. Now 20, Johnson is shining in the Championship for his boyhood club.
The winger has broken into Forest’s first team set-up. Last season, he went on loan to Lincoln with just eight Forest games under his belt. He had a hand in 27 goals in 48 games during the loan, scoring 13 and creating 14.
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It saw Forest bring him back and immediately integrate Johnson into the starting line-up – since netting 12 goals this season, as well as five assists. Such form has seen him earn nine Wales caps, shining on Tuesday night.
Indeed, Johnson laid on a brilliant assist or Cardiff’s Rubin Colwill in a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic. The Mail claim he is now valued at £18m. Orta has spoken out, claiming Leeds tried to sign him at just 16, in 2018.
“Brennan Johnson now, he is a Welsh international again, the best young player in the second division already. He has rejected Brentford. My model was to sign Johnson when he was 16 and we tried. But it could not be.”
Orta on Johnson: Would Forest star had thrived at Leeds under Bielsa?
It is difficult to say. Under Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds handed plenty of young players a chance – but promotion to the Premier League has somewhat stifled that progression of young talent, given the higher standard.
Johnson might have gone on loan to Lincoln, as he did from Forest, but whether he returned to Leeds after said loan and got into the first team is unlikely. One that got away, though, given his value and potential, now.
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