Nottingham Forest have been linked with a January move for Brighton and Hove Albion defender Haydon Roberts.
The versatile 19-year-old is a centre-back by trade, but is also capable of playing at left-back and in central midfield - which could provide a solution to a problem position for the Reds.
News that Sheffield United loanee Max Lowe faces two months out of action with a groin strain has left Forest very short of cover on the left side of defence.
Full-back is an area the Reds will look to strengthen in January, and Roberts is on their radar, according to The Athletic.
Swansea City are also said to be monitoring the teenager “with a view to borrowing” him when the transfer window opens.
A former England Under-17 and Under-18 international, Roberts joined the Seagulls in October 2015 and has come up through the ranks at the club.
He spent last term on loan at Rochdale, making 26 appearances for the League One side as a regular in the starting XI.
This season, he has featured for Brighton in the Football League Trophy, and three times in the Carabao Cup.
He has also been included in Graham Potter’s matchday squad in the Premier League, though has yet to get any top-flight minutes on the pitch.
Forest have been hit hard by injuries in defence, with centre-backs Loic Mbe Soh and Rodrigo Ely still sidelined.
And boss Steve Cooper has a problem to solve at left-back as he looks to cope without Lowe.
Gaetan Bong is the only senior orthodox left-back in the squad, but it was midfielder Jack Colback who got the nod to start there against Luton Town on Tuesday night.
A red card for the former Newcastle United man in the second half, though, means he is ruled out of Friday night’s trip to West Bromwich Albion.
Potter recently told the Brighton and Hove Independent of Roberts: “He’s a really exciting player. He is young and he has got a lot to learn but he has got some really interesting attributes. Very strong, very quick, very mobile.
"Powerful. Good with the ball, brings it out well. He’s got good courage so he’s got a lot of things that are really exciting. He has got attributes that can play in the Premier League.
"We need to help him get better. Help him understand a bit more about what we are trying to do.”
