Phil Hay: Lewis O’Brien deal there to be done for Leeds United
The Athletic journalist Phil Hay has reported that there is a deal “there to be done” for Leeds United to sign Lewis O’Brien from Huddersfield.
Sun journalist Alan Nixon reported earlier this week that Marcelo Bielsa feels the 22-year-old midfielder would be a good addition for the Whites this summer.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Phil Hay Show, Hay now reports that if Leeds really want O’Brien, he is someone who they should be able to land.
The ex-Yorkshire Evening Post journalist said: “They are in for O’Brien at Huddersfield.
“[He’s a] good player and another player people might think there’s not a lot of showbiz there but he’s somebody Bielsa evidently likes.
“Bielsa was there for the League Cup game against Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.
“That one looks like it’s there to be done if Leeds actually want to push it through.
“I know it’s not a [Nahitan] Nandez, for example. But I don’t think they were ever signing Nandez, I don’t think that was ever in the plan, I don’t think that was ever going to happen.”
Hay added: “O’Brien is definitely one to watch because they’re working on that one.”
Underwhelming for fans – but not for Bielsa
Leeds fans have the right to be worried about the transfer activity at Elland Road this summer.
Junior Firpo and Kristoffer Klaesson are the only two new additions to the first-team squad and the latter has been signed as a new second-choice goalkeeper.
It’s rather underwhelming after last summer was spent signing Spain and Germany internationals as well as a Brazilian winger.
However, this summer has been one where Leeds’ transition from a Championship club to a Premier League club has slowed down.
Bielsa doesn’t sign players for the sake of it – which is great when you consider how poorly Victor Orta’s scattergun approach to transfers failed.
And you get the sense that O’Brien may be someone we, as fans, are not blown away by but is really someone who whets Bielsa’s appetite.
At the end of the day, Bielsa hasn’t steered us wrong yet. Let’s trust him.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have made an approach to sign an English forward whose value is rising every time he plays.