Nottingham Forest have completed several signings as they look to attain promotion to the Premier League. Nonetheless, one of the club’s most talented prospects could be poised to depart the City Ground following reported interest from Manchester United and RB Leipzig. Matthew Bondswell could soon leave Forest.
According to the Daily Mail, RB Leipzig are hoping to beat the Red Devils to the signature of Nottingham Forest’s highly-rated prospect, Matthew Bondswell. The 16-year-old has also reportedly evoked interest from Liverpool and Southampton, but it seems that German outfit, RB Leipzig have seized the advantage in the race for his signing.
The left-back confirmed that he was leaving the club via a post on Instagram, concluding an eight-year spell at the City Ground. It appears that Bondswell is destined to follow in the footsteps of former Forest youth product, Olivier Burke who made the switch to Leipzig in 2016.
Without question, the transfer is emblematic of a contemporary trend, in which promising youth players would prefer to depart for a foreign league, as opposed to staying in Britain. The likes of Jadon Sancho, Reece Oxford and Ademola Lookman have all achieved success by choosing to move abroad, as opposed to staying at home, and it appears that more starlets are prepared to emulate their career choices.
Perhaps, it serves as a timely reminder of the importance of entrusting young players with first-team involvement. Ultimately, these young stars are seeking continuous participation and opportunities to testify their credentials in the most competitive environments. Why should Britain’s young stars choose to stay in the Championship or the Premier League, when they have the opportunity to impress and contribute meaningfully in the Bundesliga?
This isn’t to insinuate that every young player exhibits sufficient quality to start for their respective teams, nor should development be prioritised over club aspirations, such as promotion. Nonetheless, unless attitudes alter towards the inclusion of young players, more prospects will opt to seek pastures new to continue their progression.
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