A mystery Premier League club is leading the race for Leeds United defender Robin Koch amid interest from Nottingham Forest.
Leeds dropping into the Championship means clubs are no doubt looking to snap up some of their players.
Jack Harrison and Tyler Adams are bound to attract interest but it’s defender Robin Koch who appears to be most in-demand.
The German defender has been linked with a host of clubs and Nottingham Forest are one of them.
90Min claimed last week that Forest have held ‘exploratory talks’ to try and sign Koch.
One potential problem for Forest is that there is plenty of rival interest.
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Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford and Newcastle United are also understood to be talking to Koch’s representatives.
The 26-year-old predominantly played as a centre back for Leeds but has also featured as a holding midfielder at times.
That may make Koch appealing and an immediate return to the Premier League is now gathering pace.
Nottingham Forest target Robin Koch wanted in Premier League
Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg now reports that Bayer Leverkusen want to sign Koch this summer.
However, Plettenberg adds that a mystery Premier League club are currently in the lead for Koch’s signature.
Plettenberg is adamant that Koch can leave Leeds on a free transfer this summer thanks to a relegation clause in his contract.
That has been denied in the Yorkshire press, but Koch will almost certainly be leaving Leeds this summer.
Could that mystery club be Forest?
We’re expecting to see Steve Cook leave Forest this summer, but Forest still have plenty of centre backs.
Joe Worrall, Willy Boly and Felipe all offer right-footed options at the back for Forest with Scott McKenna and Moussa Niakhate as left-footed options.
That’s a lot of options but it’s worth noting that Boly and Niakhate are in line to play at the Africa Cup of Nations in January.
That would leave Forest a little short and Steve Cooper may now fancy adding another option in Koch.
Stuttgart ace Konstantinos Mavropanos has been linked too, with Koch representing a similar profile as a right-footed, 6ft 4in centre back.
There seems to be real weight behind Forest signing another centre back this summer and if Koch really can leave for free – or even at a bargain price – then a move to the City Ground could be on the cards.