A series of eye-catching displays have seen Premier League vultures emerge for the Reds’ latest youth success story, with Arsenal and Liverpool reported to be circling.
Nottingham Forest’s Stephen Henderson celebrates his sides second goal scored by Ben Brereton (not pictured)
Following reports by The Sun that Arsenal had joined Liverpool in the chase for Nottingham Forest’s 17-year-old wonderkid Ben Brereton, Reds fans have resigned themselves to yet another player being sold under value.
Since owner Fawaz Al Hasawi took over in 2012, Forest have routinely sold their most promising youngsters – and best players – under value, with the beleaguered Kuwaiti businessman seemingly having no concept of a player’s worth in relation to their potential, while his reluctance to implement a footballing structure means no-one can advise him otherwise.
With some of the biggest teams in the country now circling round Brereton, fans are worried that as soon as Al Hasawi sees some pound coins in front of him, he’ll make a knee-jerk movement and sell to whoever he can, when the club can get a lot more than what’s being touted.
Brereton is still 17, has every attribute needed to become a top flight player, and he’s English. A well ran Championship club could fetch at least £15m – maybe even £20m with the new TV deal coming into play – with a sizeable sell on clause, yet you sense Forest under Al Hasawi would take £8m, cash up front, with no thought to the future.
Nottingham Forest’s Ben Brereton in action with Rotherham United’s Richie Smallwood and Rotherham United’s Richard Wood (C)
It means that Liverpool or Arsenal will get an absolute bargain at £10m – or less – with Brereton racking up three goals and two assists in 13 games, despite being thrown headfirst into a relegation battle with Forest at such a young age. Jurgen Klopp and Arsene Wenger have both shown an ability to develop young players, and the striker could well be coming on leaps and bounds at the Emirates or Anfield instead of The City Ground.
Brereton’s also just picked up the EFL Apprentice of the Year award, last won by winger Ademola Lookman – now at Everton following a £10m move from Charlton Athletic in January, as reports the Daily Mail. Unfortunately for Forest, you feel that Charlton’s business acumen – despite off the field drama – is significantly better than Al Hasawi’s, and Forest will be shortchanged yet again under their Kuwaiti owner.
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