Ex-Leeds United target Lewis O’Brien links up with former Whites favourite as Forest limbo ends

Nottingham Forest outcast Lewis O’Brien will finally forge a midfield partnership with former Leeds United favourite Mateusz Klich. In January, the Whites allowed Klich to leave on a free transfer after failing to start a league game all season.

The Polish international received a heart-warming send-off from Leeds supporters during the FA Cup clash with Cardiff City. A rapport was built between Klich and the Elland Road faithful after Marcelo Bielsa bought him in from the cold to become a key man during the Argentine's three-and-a-half-year reign in West Yorkshire.

MLS outfit DC United, managed by Premier League legend Wayne Rooney, swooped in for Klich. Since then, the 32-year-old has played four times for Black-and-Red, scoring one goal and grabbing two assists.

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Now he will be joined by another top-flight star who almost became his teammate at Leeds. Forest midfielder O’Brien was linked with a Whites in a number of times in recent windows.

Forest swooped for O'Brien last summer, but after just six league starts at the City Ground, the midfielder quickly fell down the pecking order. Further January arrivals saw O'Brien lined up for a deadline day move to Blackburn Rovers, only for that to fall through at the 11th hour and leave him in limbo and unable to play after Forest did not include him in their 25-man Premier League squad.

Manager Steve Cooper confirmed O’Brien’s exit to DC United on the club website, insisting the player now has an “opportunity” to ply his trade abroad. He said: "Lewis deserves this opportunity to go and play football.

“Everyone knows about his situation so now he is able to go and get some games under his belt between now and the end of the season. It will be a real positive for him. It will be a great experience and we wish him well."

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