Huddersfield Town are reportedly rivalling Championship rivals Blackpool in the race to sign Nottingham Forest defender Jordan Gabriel, according to journalist Alan Nixon.
The Forest full-back has been with the club since 2015, but has been restricted to just three senior appearances for them over the years.
But the 22-year-old has caught the eye with some strong performances with Blackpool, in a loan spell with the Tangerines during the 2020/21 season.
Gabriel made 35 appearances in total for Neil Critchley's side, and chipped in with one goal and one assist, as Blackpool won promotion into the Championship after a win over Lincoln City in the League One play-off final.
Blackpool's interest in signing Gabriel on a permanent basis this summer has been well-documented, but it seems as though they have a fight on their hands to strike an agreement to land his signature, with Huddersfield Town entering the race.
Carlos Corberan's side finished 20th in the Championship table last season, and are clearly keen to add depth to their defensive options heading into the new campaign.
Gabriel is contracted with Nottingham Forest until the summer of 2024, and it remains to be seen as to what the future holds for the full-back at the City Ground.
Huddersfield are set to take on Derby County in their season opener on Saturday 7th August, in what is likely to be a closely-fought battle between both teams.
The Verdict:
This could turn out to be a smart bit of business by the Terriers this summer.
Gabriel played a key role for Blackpool in their promotion-winning season last term, and it's understandable that he's attracting interest from Championship clubs ahead of the new league campaign.
It'll be interesting to hear what Nottingham Forest's stance on his future is though, as Chris Hughton might want to give him a chance in his senior squad in the near future.
But if that isn't to be the case, then Forest's loss could turn out to be Blackpool or Huddersfield Town's gain if they strike an agreement to sign Gabriel.