Nottingham Forest are now preparing an opening bid for the deadline day transfer of Norwich City talent Andrew Omobamidele as an alternate target to Trevoh Chalobah.
That is according to Fabrizio Romano, who reports that Nottingham Forest are now drawing up an initial offer. The City Ground side have turned their attention to Omobamidele having seen Steve Cooper’s efforts to acquire Chalobah from Chelsea fall short during deadline day.
Nottingham Forest have strived to tempt Chelsea to send Chalobah to the Midlands. But the 24-year-old has rejected the transfer, despite failing to agree on a transfer to Bayern Munich before the Bundesliga window shut. The Daily Mail reported Forest bid £25m for Chalobah.
Omobamidele is now firmly on Nottingham Forest’s radar with Cooper ready to target a deal with Norwich and forget Chalobah. The 21-year-old is not a mainstay of the Canaries’ squad yet has bags of senior experience. But he is under contract at Carrow Road until June 2026.
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Who is Andrew Omobamidele and how good is he?
Andrew Omobamidele is a last-gasp deadline day transfer target of Nottingham Forest and is a graduate of Norwich City’s academy. He joined the Canaries’ youth ranks in July 2018 after a spell at Leixlip United in Ireland. He spent four years at the Leixlip Amenities Centre.
Norwich afforded Omobamidele regular outings at the Under-18 and U21 levels before they brought him into first-team football. Daniel Farke gave the defender his Championship debut at Cardiff City in January 2021 and also his Premier League debut at Arsenal that September.
Omobamidele faced the Bluebirds aged 18 years, six months and 24 days. He has also spent his entire professional career with Norwich, having never left Norfolk on loan since his move there back in 2018. But Nottingham Forest now hope to break the bond during deadline day.
Cooper believes Omobamidele can improve his defensive options at the City Ground after a strong 2022/23 Championship season. He played in 34 of the Canaries’ second tier games and started in 27. David Wagner even game him the club’s captaincy for four of their last six.
The 2022/23 season returned Omobamidele’s most fixtures in a single league term so far in his fledgling career. But his time with Norwich has drawn vivid praise since his emergence as a first-team player. Ex-Dundalk head coach Vinny Perth could not speak higher in April 2021.
“I watched him against Preston in a 1-1 draw and he subsequently stayed in the team,” said Perth, via quotes by Pink Un. “He has been outstanding – a really, really exciting footballer.
“They want to play out from the back, he is so comfortable on the ball. I hate giving players tags but he looks like a young Rio Ferdinand. He has got bits to learn in that he could develop his upper body strength but he is 18 [and] playing against men.
“He is so calm on the ball, so assured on the ball [and] his passing range is excellent. I believe he could play in the number 6 role, he could be a Declan Rice-type player. It will be interesting to see.”
Where and when was Andrew Omobamidele born?
Andrew Omobamidele was born in Leixlip, a town in north-east County Kildare, on June 23 in 2002. He is eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland and has earned six caps so far for the Boys in Green. The defender has also featured over the Under-17, 18, 19 and 21 levels.
What position does Andrew Omobamidele play?
Managers have traditionally developed Andrew Omobamidele to play as a centre-half as his primary position. But he can also play as a holding midfielder and as a right-back, if needed.
Andrew Omobamidele’s stats at Norwich City
Nottingham Forest may sign a defensive goal threat with a deadline day transfer for Andrew Omobamidele of Norwich City. He has scored goals in defensive roles throughout his career.
Under-18s, Norwich City: 21 appearances, 3 goals, 1 assist
Under-21s, Norwich City: 29 appearances, 1 goal, 0 assists
First-team, Norwich City: 55 appearances, 2 goals, 0 assists