According to The Chronicle, Nottingham Forest have joined Derby County in the race for Newcastle United midfielder Matty Longstaff.
It’s claimed that a host of Championship clubs are now queueing up to sign Longstaff on loan in January, with up to nine teams keen.
Derby have been linked already, but it’s now suggested that bitter rivals Forest want him too, meaning they could go head-to-head for his signature.
Longstaff emerged into Steve Bruce’s first-team picture last season, scoring two Premier League goals – and both came against Manchester United.
It looked like he would be leaving Newcastle over the summer as his contract ran down, but the Magpies eventually managed to tie him down to a new deal –
Injuries have set him back this season though, and a move to a Championship club may present him with a chance to play first-team football for the second half of the campaign.
With seven other clubs keen, the East Midlands duo face a fight to sign the 20-year-old talent when the January transfer window opens.
Forest boss Chris Hughton does have ties to Newcastle as their former manager, but they do already have a number of midfielders such as Ryan Yates, Jack Colback, Harry Arter, Samba Sow, Cafu, Luke Freeman and Fouad Bachirou, so Forest may need to tinker with their squad to bring in another midfield option.
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