Victor Orta makes Leeds United transfer admission involving Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson

The Nottingham Forest forward is under increased transfer speculation given his performances for the Reds this season. 

Johnson was subject of a big offer from Brentford in January, and it is likely there will be more bids for his services in the summer should Forest fail to earn promotion. 

Orta has now revealed that Leeds United were interested in signing the exciting youngster as early as at 16-years of age. 

Orta was building a project that involved signing young talent early to avoid competing with bigger teams after those players have their breakthroughs.

Speaking to Marca, the Leeds director of football confirmed that the club were unable to come to an agreement over Johnson, who has been at Forest since he was eight-years old.

“We have a project with the full support of the entire board of directors and the CEO,” said Orta.

“I identified that we had to anticipate and develop the ‘Anticipate Project Talent’ project with my scouting group of English people, who are the best in England.

“We had to reach the player much earlier because if we expected the player to make his debut, he would have minutes in the Championship. Like Brennan Johnson now, he is a new Welsh international, the best young player in the English second division, he is already at 20.

“My model was to have reached Brennan Johnson when he was 16 and we tried. But it could not be. It could have been Greenwood, Gelhardt, Lewis Bate… We have paid for these players between one and two million, so we reached about 20 players.”

Johnson has scored 11 league goals and earned six assists in what has been a breakthrough campaign for the Wales international. 

His performances have caught the attention of Premier League clubs, as he helps Forest in their battle