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George Bennett

Leeds United's under the radar rivalry with Nottingham Forest which is set to reignite in crucial clash

Leeds United's clash against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday will see a number of Bundesliga exports renew acquaintances in the Premier League.

While Leeds boss Jesse Marsch once patrolled the touchline as both manager and assistant at RB Leipzig, the American has since plucked talent from the Bundesliga to bolster his squad at Elland Road.

The Bundesliga had rarely been a popular market for the Whites in previous years, with the purchase of the legendary Tony Yeboah from Eintracht Frankfurt serving as the most poignant signing from Germany.

Then there was in the infamous saga involving Jean-Kevin Augustin and RB Leipzig, while Felix Wiedwald arrived from Werder Bremen for a solitary season at Leeds in 2017.

Read more: Leeds United transfer news LIVE: Weston McKennie medical details and more

Robin Koch was signed from SC Freiburg ahead of the Whites' return to the Premier League, but Marsch has explored the market in Germany more than any previous Leeds manager.

Tyler Adams, whom he coached at both New York Red Bulls and RB Leipzig, signed from the latter in the summer, while Marc Roca completed his switch from Bayern Munich.

Club record signing Georginio Rutter became Marsch's third purchase from the Bundesliga when he arrived from Hoffenheim earlier this month.

Nottingham Forest's spending spree has seen the newly-promoted outfit sign no fewer than 26 players during the 2022-23 season.

The Tricky Trees signed four players directly from the Bundesliga, while Emmanuel Dennis experienced an underwhelming loan spell at FC Koln in 2020-21, which saw him fail to score in nine league appearances.

Moussa Niakhate spent four seasons at FSV Mainz and scored nine goals in 135 appearances for the 05ers. The Senegalese defender also scored all three of his penalties for Mainz, as they went almost 10 years without missing from the spot in the Bundesliga (36 consecutive penalties scored).

However, Niakhate has been unable to showcase his quality in the Premier League, after a hamstring injury in just his second league game has consigned him to the sidelines since August.

Taiwo Awoniyi has struggled to translate his clinical form at Union Berlin into his latest chapter at Forest. The former Liverpool academy graduate scored 20 goals in 43 matches for the Iron One last season, but has netted just four league goals this term.

Ex-Reading full-back Omar Richards is yet to play a single game for the Reds due to a fractured leg which he sustained during pre-season.

Richards joined Bayern Munich from Reading in the summer of 2021, but was sold to Forest after one season at the Allianz Arena. Orel Mangala made a slow start at the City Ground and plagued by a muscle injury for several weeks shortly after his arrival from VfB Stuttgart.

But the Belgian international has gradually eased himself into the side at the turn of the year to form a promising midfield trio with Ryan Yates and Remo Freuler.

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