Journalist thinks ‘very special’ Nottingham Forest star will join EFL outfit this month

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The Sun journalist Alan Nixon has told one fan on Twitter that he thinks Lewis O’Brien will leave Nottingham Forest for West Brom. The player has been linked with a loan move to the Baggies where he’d link up with Carlos Corberan once more.

O’Brien has started just eight times for Forest during 2022/23. He picked up an illness earlier in the season and in his absence, other players started to make themselves undroppable in the eyes of Steve Cooper.

That has seen O’Brien shunted down the pecking order and last week against Southampton, he wasn’t included in the 20-man squad. Furthermore, he showed clear signs that he was lacking in match sharpness in the defeat at Blackpool on Saturday.

O’Brien signed for Forest in the summer, shortly after Huddersfield had been beaten by the Reds in the play-off final. He signed along with Harry Toffolo with the pair costing around £12.5 million in total.

It’s thought that £10 million of that was paid to the Terriers for O’Brien. As a result, it looks highly unlikely that the Reds would consider cashing in on the central midfielder at this stage.

A chance to play regular football looks to have arisen though and it would be silly for Forest not to consider it. Furthermore, it would appear that Cooper wants to sign another midfielder this month and that would further harness O’Brien’s chances.

Journalist thinks O’Brien could join West Brom

Nixon is often on the button when it comes to transfer rumours. He does get things wrong occasionally, particularly when it comes to Forest, but he thinks this deal could get completed.

O’Brien won’t be sold this month by the Reds. Forest rate him very highly and at 23-years-old, he has a very bright future at the City Ground.

Corberan is a huge fan of the player though. In December 2021, the Baggies boss praised the central midfielder and called him ‘very special’ after a draw against Yorkshire rivals Barnsley.

The Spanish manager has revived West Brom considerably. With Michael Hefele as his assistant manager, the Baggies have gone from the bottom of the league to within touching distance of the top six.

O’Brien could help the club secure a place in the play-offs during 2022/23. With that in mind, if he’s not going to play at Forest, perhaps they’d be wise to loan him back to the Championship.