Leeds United miles away from signing ‘very special’ Forest player, talks ongoing – Journalist

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Lewis O’Brien is not close to signing for Leeds United from Nottingham Forest. The Reds are hoping to offload the midfielder before the deadline next Friday.

According to Alan Nixon of The Sun, there is a lot of work to do on this particular deal. He’s claimed that there is no agreement and a deal between the two clubs is taking some thrashing out.

Daniel Farke would very much like to sign O’Brien. His recruitment drive has stepped up a notch over the past few days, with Joel Piroe the pick of the signings from Swansea City.

O’Brien is out of contention at Forest. He signed for the Reds from Huddersfield for £10 million and the club would like whoever takes him on loan to include a clause to buy him for that price if they win promotion.

It’s been a vastly frustrating time for the 24-year-old since the turn of the year. He made 14 appearances for Forest during the first half of 2022/23 but was then omitted from the 25-man squad during the January transfer window.

He spent some time on loan with D.C. United in the MLS and impressed Wayne Rooney during his time playing in the United States. After returning, he was on the bench for Forest’s first game of the season against Arsenal.

Now, he’s set to leave the club though. Forest have landed Andrey Santos from Chelsea on a season-long loan and could yet sign another midfielder before the transfer window closes.

Forest midfielder O’Brien nowhere near Leeds switch

Many feel as though the young midfielder has been treated somewhat harshly at Forest. That might be the case but it seems clear right now that the club are targeting a different calibre of player.

Forest ultimately will have to clear the decks this summer. They have now signed five new players and the club will need to make some room in the squad for more new recruits.

O’Brien needs to play football. Carlos Corberan managed him at Huddersfield and he’s not keen to take him to West Bromwich Albion before the window closes.

When the pair worked together at Huddersfield, Corberan was very complimentary of the midfielder. He called him ‘very special’ and proved a key part of the club’s run to the play-off final during 2021/22.

The chance to play for Leeds will surely be too strong to turn down, however. They are going to be in the promotion shake-up come the end of the season and O’Brien will surely hope a deal can be done with the Whites.