Nottingham Forest youngster Brennan Johnson hasn’t just been catching the eye of Chris Hughton during his loan spell at Lincoln City.
The 19-year-old has been in red-hot form for the Imps this season, recently taking his goal tally to 12 with a hat-trick against MK Dons - the first treble of his professional career.
Reds boss Hughton has been monitoring his progress closely, and went to watch him in person against Burton Albion on Tuesday night.
But Johnson’s sparkling performances are said to have also drawn attention from elsewhere.
Premier League outfits Burnley and Leeds United were said to have been keeping tabs on the Wales international back in January.
And it seems they are continuing to follow his development.
The Clarets, along with Brentford and at least two other top-flight clubs, have “been watching Johnson keenly”, according to The Athletic.
Forest reportedly value the teenager at around £10m, but he does still have two years remaining on his contract.
And Hughton has said he can be in the running to push for a place in the first-team at the City Ground for 2021/22.
“For as much as possible, if we have got young players that are doing well, then that’s the reason you send them out on loan,” he said.
“You send them out on loan so they can come into your thoughts and you can consider them.
“But ultimately, at the end, the biggest consideration will be, we have a real tough Championship season next year - and if anything this division is getting tougher. And what I want is the most competitive squad I can to be able to compete.
“If those young players we have spoken about, who have come back after being on loan, have done well enough to adjust my thinking, then it’s because it’s the right thing.
“All of these decisions are ones we’ll give a lot of thought to.
“Most importantly, they have gone out and done well, and they will have put themselves in the reckoning.”
