Sheffield United tipped to beat Leeds United to Nottingham Forest agreement | OneFootball

FLW's Sheffield United fan pundit expects his side to beat Leeds United to a deal for Nottingham Forest's Andrew Omobamidele

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Sheffield United have been backed to beat off competition from promotion, and local rivals Leeds United for the signature of Andrew Omobamidele, who appears poised to leave Nottingham Forest this month.

The 2024/25 Championship promotion race is matching up to expectation, with a hotly-anticipated tussle for the top spots primed to take place heading into the second half of the campaign.

Leeds are currently at the top of the league table, with a slender single-point advantage over second-placed Burnley and the Blades, who are both tied on 52 points.

All three clubs, along with fourth-placed Sunderland, will be looking to capitalise on the January transfer window to supplement their respective promotion bids, though perhaps none more so than the Blades following COH Sports Group's recent purchase of the club.

Chris Wilder's side have been linked to a number of names just days into the current window, the latest of which is Omobamidele.

Sheffield United's transfer interest in Nottingham Forest's Andrew Omobamidele

According to a recent report from The Sun's Alan Nixon, Sheffield United and Leeds are primed to lock horns in the race to sign Omobamidele this month.

Forest are believed to be looking to move on the Republic of Ireland international, who cost the club £11 million after signing from Norwich City in the summer of 2023 but is yet to make a single top-flight appearance under Nuno Espirito Santo this term.

The report states that Forest are hoping to receive £10 million for his services, and Leeds are reportedly keen to strike a permanent deal while the Blades would prefer a loan agreement.

Wilder is on the search for fresh central defensive options after losing Leicester City loanee Harry Souttar for the season, with the Aussie having been struck down with a ruptured Achilles tendon during the Boxing Day defeat to Burnley.

Sheffield United tipped to beat Leeds United to Nottingham Forest's Andrew Omobamidele

Even though Leeds are in a marginally better league position at present and are willing to sign him permanently - though it would come as no surprise to see the Blades purchase the 22-year-old with a loan-to-buy agreement in the event of promotion - our resident Bramall Lane fan pundit Jimmy believes his club have the advantage over the Whites when it comes to potentially acquiring Omobamidele.

We asked Jimmy if he believes Omobamidele would be a good signing for his club this window, to which he responded: "I quite like him as a player.

"We've obviously only seen him play one full season for Norwich, but he looked a real prospect. Quick, strong, all the attributes you want from a centre-back.

"He's not quite made it into the Forest team this season, but I think it was probably a long-term investment - or that's what they had planned at the time, that he wasn't really for the now but for the future.

"So I think us coming in with a loan offer, as a team that needs a centre-back - we've lost Harry Souttar for the season and need a replacement because our defence does not look as solid without him - can Omobamidele come in and do that job? Potentially, yes I think he can.

"So yes I would certainly be up for United signing him, whether it's a loan to buy - I think the buy would only be on promotion. I think we might have the edge over Leeds, because Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk are their legitimate centre-back pairing but we don't have that as we're a man down in defence so I like that a signing.