Lewis O’Brien most likely new signing for Leeds United – Phil Hay
Huddersfield midfielder Lewis O’Brien is the most likely new signing for Leeds United this summer, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
The Mail on Sunday [August 8, page 138] has reported that Leeds are lining up a new bid for the 22-year-old central midfielder after an opening £3million offer was rejected by their Yorkshire rivals.
Leeds fans have known throughout the summer that Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta are likely to want a new central midfielder before the transfer window closes and ex-Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Hay feels it will be O’Brien who comes in.
However, Hay adds that Leeds do not want to match Huddersfield’s £8million-plus valuation of the midfielder.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Phil Hay Show podcast, Hay said: “That, to my mind, is the area (central midfield) they do need to deal with.
“I think there’s still a chance it will be Lewis O’Brien who comes.
“The last time I was speaking there was no financial agreement there and I don’t think Leeds want to go to the £8million-plus Huddersfield are asking for him.
“It’s not so much a case of not having the money, it’s more a case of trying to properly evaluate his value and decide whether or not that is a sensible investment.
“But if they can get him, I think they will do. And if they do, then given what they said they were going to do this summer, I think that’s ok.”
O’Brien and Hjelde in next?
Leeds’ transfer activity has been slow this summer and nothing like what we experienced last year upon promotion to the Premier League.
It was expected, and in all honesty, fans demanding that the club continues to throw money at signing new players are – to put it simply – wrong.
Marcelo Bielsa knows what he’s doing and he likes to have a closely-knit group of players who know his system inside out and show the perfect attitude and application in training.
He doesn’t just sign anyone and when Leeds do decide to push the boat out, they sign players like Jean-Kevin Augustin.
We’re happy with a more muted transfer window which has seen a couple of problem areas strengthened and the Under-23s padded out to give Bielsa more options in the short-term and, potentially, better options in the future.
Leo Hjedle is reportedly on his way to Leeds from Celtic with the Scottish Sun reporting the 17-year-old defender could join in the coming days.
He’s said to be joining up with the Under-23s but O’Brien would be a major addition to the first-team at Elland Road and could even start regularly in the Premier League for Bielsa if he adapts well to the system.
In other Leeds United news, Stan Collymore has predicted the result of Leeds’ clash against Manchester United.