Nottingham Forest youngster Brennan Johnson will be among the names discussed in a Newcastle United recruitment meeting next week, according to reports.
The 20-year-old has been in fine form for the Reds this season. He has been integral to their rise up the table under Steve Cooper and has hit double-figures with 12 goals so far.
Johnson has had a string of admirers since last summer, after he returned from a sparkling spell on loan at Lincoln City. And Brentford tried their best to sign him in January, with Forest rejecting what would have been a club record fee for the Nigel Doughty Academy graduate.
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Aiming high
Young talent Ateef Konate says discussions over his future at Nottingham Forest have already started, as he continues to impress for the Under-23s.
The 20-year-old joined the Reds from French second division side Le Havre in September 2020 and this season has had his first taste of senior action. He featured twice in the Carabao Cup, then was handed his league debut by Steve Cooper in the 3-0 win over Barnsley in January.
The midfielder is part of a group of academy players who regularly train with the first-team squad. And Cooper has admitted the club turned down interest from teams looking to take him on loan in January.
From the summer, Konate is said to have another 12 months to run on his contract with Forest. The youngster says he is enjoying his time Trentside, though.
Special message
Defender Joe Worrall says he hopes the support fans showed through “tough times” is being repaid as Nottingham Forest target a successful end to the season.
After their worst start to a campaign in more than a century, the Reds have enjoyed a remarkable transformation under Steve Cooper. And the goal is to ensure this term finishes in style.
Amid an electric atmosphere at the City Ground on Sunday night, Forest pushed Liverpool all the way in a gripping FA Cup quarter-final. In the end, they were left to rue missed chances as a disputed Diogo Jota goal denied them a last-four tie at Wembley.
But attention will turn back to a promotion push once the Championship action resumes after the international break. Cooper’s men are three points below the play-off spots with 10 matches to play, holding games in hand on their rivals.
Garner praised
James Garner would have a strong chance of breaking into the current Manchester United first team if he wasn’t on loan at Nottingham Forest.
That’s according to former Forest striker Glenn Murray, who played alongside the midfielder last season. It has been a chaotic season at Garner’s parent club, who are in danger of missing out on a Champions League place. Midfield has been a problem area for the Red Devils and Murray believes Garner would be in Ralf Rangnick’s thoughts if he was still at Old Trafford.
"James is a box-to-box midfielder, he is a bit of a throwback," Murray told LFCTV. "He's got a great delivery in the box, good passing range and he doesn't shirk away from the other side of it, which is the defending.
"He's a bit of a complete midfielder. I think if he was at Manchester United at the moment he might have got a sniff around the first team."
