Leeds United ‘surprisingly’ back out of Lewis O’Brien deal as Middlesbrough news emerges
Middlesbrough have won the race to sign Leeds United target Lewis O’Brien, according to Alan Nixon.
The journalist provided an update via his Patreon page (31 August), reporting that Boro will sign the Nottingham Forest midfielder, who was keen to join the Championship club, on loan for the season.
Coventry and Ipswich were also interested in signing the 24-year-old while Leeds United surprisingly backed away from the deal.
Initially, O’Brien was only available for sale but in the end, the East Midlands side were worn down and they settled for the most lucrative loan offer they had on the table.
Priorities
Perhaps the fact that O’Brien was only available in a permanent swoop initially might have put the Whites off, or more simply, they could have just had bigger fish to fry elsewhere. The West Yorkshire side have been credited with an interest in numerous midfielders over the past few days with Friday’s deadline drawing closer.
And in the end, they might have just decided that there were better options on the market. It is surprising, however, that O’Brien wasn’t higher up their list of targets, as his experience of English football and the Championship in particular could have been very useful as Daniel Farke’s side look to push for promotion from the division.
He enjoyed a positive spell with Huddersfield during the 2021/22 season, and if he could have replicated that form at Elland Road, he might have been a real asset.
Supporters will just hope that missing out on the signing doesn’t come back to haunt them.
In other Leeds United news, the club are prepared to let four players leave before Friday.