Leeds United look as though as they will spend another summer targeting a move for Lewis O’Brien. Their pursuit of the Huddersfield Town midfielder last summer was an unsuccessful one but, after the Terriers missed out on promotion, he is back on the radar at Elland Road.
The 23-year-old played a starring role in helping Carlos Corberan’s side to the Championship play-off final. They ultimately came up short in the 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Wembley but it wasn’t for the want of O’Brien’s trying.
On an afternoon where Huddersfield were largely second best, their star midfielder did everything he could to try and turn the tide. His efforts perhaps should have resulted in his side being awarded a late penalty after he was tripped in the penalty area in the 83rd minute by Max Lowe.
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However, it wasn’t given by retiring referee Jon Moss and Forest’s promotion to the Premier League was confirmed, leaving their opponents inconsolable on the Wembley turf. If the disappointment of their West Yorkshire neighbours didn’t bring enough joy to the Leeds supporters, reports soon emerged that they might take advantage of Huddersfield’s continued residence in the second tier.
According to the Sun, the Whites will renew their interest in the young midfielder despite the fact that he signed an extension at the John Smith’s Stadium earlier this season. The asking price will, of course, be less than it would have been had Huddersfield beat Forest but their track record of selling their star players shows that he still won’t come cheap.
The asking price set by the Terriers is unclear but it is likely to be more than they were asking for last summer as a result of the new contract and on the back of another stellar Championship campaign for O’Brien. The biggest reported bid lodged by Leeds almost a year ago came to £13m so, unless he publicly states his desire to leave, an even bigger sum will be required.
Even though it would help the cause of any potential suitors, Huddersfield have shown previously that they are unwilling to be dictated by the player’s demands. When Phillip Billing and Karlan Grant made it clear they wanted to leave the club in 2019 and 2020 respectively, the club held out for the amounts they believed the duo were worth.
Throughout both sagas, £15m was the price tag placed on both players which Bournemouth and West Brom were forced to pay for Billing and Grant. The contract that O’Brien signed back in September gives Huddersfield greater stability this time around which Leeds representatives will be fully aware of.
Although, given the quality O’Brien has shown on a weekly basis in the last two years as well as the lack of midfield cover at Elland Road, whatever price is put on O’Brien – within reason – may well be met. The reported interest of other Premier League clubs will only further force Victor Orta’s arm as it could lead to yet another case of ‘What could’ve been’ in the transfer window for Leeds if one of their rivals agrees a deal instead.
