Burnley have joined Leeds United in showing an interest in the £10 million-rated Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson, as reported by the Athletic.
When reports emerged suggesting that Sean Dyche was chasing a Forest player ahead of the summer transfer window, you would be forgiven for assuming that Joe Worrall had returned to the gossip columns.
The long-serving City Ground favourite has been linked with Burnley for the best part of three years after all.
Instead, however, the Clarets have now set their sights on another graduate from the esteemed Nigel Doughty academy.
19-year-old Nottingham-born Johnson has only ever made four Championship appearances in Garibaldi red. But the fact that he is already valued in the region of £10 million speaks volumes about how highly the winger is regarded by the two-time European champions.
Johnson has been nothing short of outstanding during a loan spell at League One promotion-chasers Lincoln City, producing 13 goals and 13 assists for Michael Appleton’s side.
He even hit a first career hat-trick in a 4-0 thrashing of MK Dons last week.
With the Athletic reporting that Burnley have joined Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds in scouting the jet-heeled attacker, Nottingham Forest are facing a battle to hold on to another highly-rated youngster.
Given that Arvin Appiah, Karl Darlow, Jamaal Lascelles and Leeds’ very own Patrick Bamford have been sold in recent years, you could understand why Forest supporters were not feeling all that confident about Johnson’s future.
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