Craig Scott

Wed 1 June 2022 16:40, UK

Huddersfield “are powerless to prevent” Lewis O’Brien from leaving this summer amid interest from Leeds United, according to TeamTalk.

The football news outlet reports that O’Brien, 23, has an active £12million release clause in his contract at the John Smith’s Stadium after Huddersfield failed to win promotion from the Championship.

It is understood that Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Sheffield United, Southampton and West Brom are also interested in signing the Colchester-born midfielder.

TeamTalk adds that while Huddersfield could get O’Brien to sign a new deal to remove the release clause, that outcome is unlikely and the deep-lying midfielder “is now destined to leave this summer”.

More O’Brien links

We were a bit sick of the talk of O’Brien and a potential move to Leeds United last year when Marcelo Bielsa was in charge.

O’Brien was strongly linked with a move to Elland Road then but there was no agreement reached on the price that Leeds were going to pay.

Even though Leeds desperately needed to sign a central midfielder or two in the summer of 2021, they refused to pay what sounded like an affordable fee for O’Brien and instead signed Daniel James for up to £30million.

How laughable is that?

Leeds have already added to their midfield since the end of the 2021/22 season by signing Brenden Aaronson from Red Bull Salzburg.

The USA international is an attacking midfielder who can also play out on the wing but O’Brien is a deeper-lying player who could work alongside Kalvin Phillips at Elland Road or at least serve as a back-up option for him.

For £12million, we wouldn’t object to a young English midfielder being added to the squad after an impressive season in the Championship.

But if this summer comes and goes without a deal for O’Brien being done, we can forget about ever seeing him in a Leeds United shirt.

In other Leeds United news, the Whites are battling Ronaldo to sign an £8.5million-rated forward who could be Raphinha’s replacement.