---
title: "Leeds: Brennan Johnson struggles against Luton Town"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/nottingham-forest-transfer-news-brennan-johnson-luton-town/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-04-17T17:45:51Z"
modified: "2022-04-17T17:45:51Z"
---

# Leeds: Brennan Johnson struggles against Luton Town

**Leeds are thought to be watching Nottingham Forest star Brennan Johnson, however, he had an afternoon to forget against Luton Town on Friday.**

This forms part of our *Transfer Watch* series, where we react to a performance from a current transfer target.

### The Lowdown: Leeds watching

Victor Orta [confirmed](https://www.teamtalk.com/leeds-united/victor-orta-brennan-johnson-revelation-nottingham-forest) last month that he tried to sign the Forest star for Leeds when he was just 16 years of age.

[![Latest Leeds United updates!](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-04-02T155252Z_391313781_UP1EI421841M9_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-SOU-REPORT.jpg)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates/)

Johnson is now catching the eye in the Championship in what has been a breakthrough campaign at the City Ground, contributing to [22](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/brennan-johnson/leistungsdaten/spieler/470607) goals in all competitions.

[Journalist Pete O’Rourke](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/follow-up/brennan-johnson-leeds-transfer-latest-orourke-raphinha/) revealed in the week that the Whites are watching the 20-year-old closely, however, Johnson struggled at Kenilworth Road in his latest performance.

### The Latest: 100% duels lost

Forest fell to a rare defeat on Friday but still occupy a play-off place with six games to go.

As per [SofaScore](https://www.sofascore.com/luton-town-nottingham-forest/osxb), Johnson played in an attacking midfield role behind two strikers but struggled to make an impact, failing to complete a successful dribble and having just 26 touches all afternoon. Johnson also lost 100% of his duels, gave possession away 10 times and committed two fouls.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”389016″\]

### The Verdict: Sign if Forest remain in the Championship?

Even though Johnson failed to impress on Friday, he appears to be a shrewd target for the Whites, should Forest fail to earn promotion to the Premier League.

[O’Rourke](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/follow-up/brennan-johnson-leeds-transfer-latest-orourke-raphinha/) believes he could be a smart replacement for Raphinha, who is heavily [linked](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1586355/Barcelona-very-advanced-Raphinha-agent-Liverpool-Chelsea-premier-league-news) with a move to Barcelona, and Johnson’s latest display appears to show he isn’t suited to an attacking midfield role.

The Wales international has had success on [both wings](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/brennan-johnson/leistungsdaten/spieler/470607) and as a [centre-forward](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/brennan-johnson/leistungsdaten/spieler/470607) in 2021/22 but has contributed to just [one goal in five games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/brennan-johnson/leistungsdaten/spieler/470607) as an attacking midfielder.

Therefore, although Orta may not have been impressed with Johnson on Friday, it could give him extra knowledge of where Johnson’s strengths lie and a move should still be pursued if the Reds remain in the second tier.

***In other news: [Leeds and Orta want ‘extraordinary’ ace in Bosman move; same agent as Bamford.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-whites-linked-with-florian-grillitsch/)***