Craig Scott

Wed 22 September 2021 18:10, UK

Leeds United-linked Lewis O’Brien now has a release clause in his contract at Huddersfield, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Lee Sobot.

On Wednesday afternoon, Huddersfield announced that O’Brien, 22, has penned a deal four-year deal at the John Smith’s Stadium with his previous terms set to expire at the end of this season.

Leeds were strongly linked with O’Brien for most of the summer transfer window and the YEP reports more than one bid was made for the central midfielder.

Now, if Leeds want to lure O’Brien away from their Yorkshire rivals, they may be forced into meeting the requirements of his release clause.

Writing on the Yorkshire Evening Post website, Sobot has said: “Huddersfield chairman Phil Hodgkinson claimed that United’s fourth bid for the midfielder in the summer window amounted to £13m but Elland Road sources say their final offer was £4m with add-ons that fell some way short of Hodgkinson’s figure.

“They also claim Leeds ended talks after a counter offer from Huddersfield.

“The midfielder has now signed a new four-year deal at the club that runs until the summer of 2025.

“The YEP understands that O’Brien’s new deal has a buy out clause, when his last one did not.”

How much?

Based on the fact that O’Brien has attracted Premier League interest, is young, English and a central midfielder who’s been in decent form, we would assume that his release clause is high.

Huddersfield would not have wanted to add a buyout clause into O’Brien’s new contract but their backs were against the wall, especially as he would have been open for pre-contract offers outside of England in January.

Leeds didn’t add to their central midfield options during the summer and are yet to win in the Premier League since the season start.

Adam Forshaw has returned from injury, to be injured again and return again and Andrea Radrizzani has previously suggested the ex-Middlesbrough man is the answer to their lack of midfield depth.

We struggle to see it as clearly as that and would like to see Bielsa sign a new central midfielder in the January window.

However, based on how few signings we’ve made in the winter while Bielsa has been in charge and how badly Jean-Kevin Augustin worked out, we doubt we can expect much until next summer.

In other Leeds United news, a BT pundit has mooted a Premier League debut for this Leeds youngster on Saturday when West Ham are in town.