Leeds United want Lewis O’Brien transfer, £10m gets deal done
Leeds United want to sign long-term midfield target Lewis O’Brien from Nottingham Forest this summer, according to Alan Nixon.
The football journalist reported on his Patreon page on Tuesday (22 August) that the Whites are keen to secure the midfielder’s services this summer, with a fee of £10m enough for Forest to allow him to depart the City ground before the window closes.
The former Huddersfield man missed out on a potential switch to fellow Premier League side Sheffield United earlier this summer with Steve Cooper’s side reluctant to allow a relegation rival to secure the 24-year-old’s services for the rest of the current campaign.
Discussing the Whites’ interest, Nixon wrote: “The Elland Road outfit have been losing players galore but are keen on midfielder O’Brien to improve their squad.
“Leeds could pull off a transfer if they pay £10 million or take O’Brien on a loan basis if they buy him on promotion.”
About time
Leeds have been admirers of O’Brien for a very, very long time having tried to sign him last summer only to miss out to Forest and now finally look to be closing in on their man as they prepare for life without Tyler Adams.
The USMNT captain’s sale to Bournemouth has left Daniel Farke’s side with plenty of money to spend before the transfer window closes, but also with a big gap to fill in the middle of the park and a move for O’Brien would make perfect sense.
When the 24-year-old was last in the second tier with Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town, he was one of the standout midfielders in the division, being an excellent ball carrier with a range of passing that was second to none.
O’Brien, unlike Adams, has also been open to dropping into England’s second tier, having just missed out on a temporary switch to Blackburn Rovers last season. If Farke and the 49ers can get this transfer over the line it will certainly lift the mood at Elland Road and hopefully kick-start their season.
In other Leeds United news, the 49ers have been left frustrated by Wilfried Gnonto’s handling of his exit this summer