Nottingham Forest ‘won’t let Lewis O’Brien join Sheffield United on loan and want £10m for the midfielder’ – who has been in exile since January after a paperwork incident
- Lewis O’Brien was exiled from the Forest squad last season after a paperwork problem
- The midfielder, 24, had failed on the loan deal with Blackburn so he flew to MLS side DC United
- Forest are now demanding £10m for the star, despite late payment demands
Newly promoted Sheffield United find themselves in a tight spot as they seek to secure Lewis O’Brien, with Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest rejecting any possibility of a loan deal for the talented 24-year-old midfielder .
The Blades now have to shell out £10m to buy O’Brien, after Forest rejected a loan offer.
After making 29 signings last summer, Forest boss Steve Cooper is looking to streamline his squad, having already released six players, including Jesse Lingard.
O’Brien was left out of the Nottingham Forest squad for the second half of the season, after a paperwork problem meant a loan spell at Blackburn fell through on January deadline day.
Forest poached O’Brien from Huddersfield Town after their triumphant win in the 2022 play-off final.
After making 29 signings last summer, Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper is keen to streamline the squad, having already released six players including Jesse Lingard and Andre Ayew.
An unfortunate hitch in the paperwork meant that Lewis O’Brien’s planned loan move to Blackburn Rovers was thwarted and as a result the midfielder was exiled for the second half of the season.
However, despite his promising potential, O’Brien struggled to claim a regular place in the Forest squad, with the club acquiring over 30 astonishing players ahead of their return to the Premier League.
It comes just days after it was made clear Nottingham Forest owe millions in overdue payments to players and agents.
An unfortunate paperwork hitch prevented the 24-year-old’s planned loan move to Blackburn Rovers.
Consequently, O’Brien was exiled for the second half of the season and was eventually kicked out of Forest’s Premier League team.
In search of playing time, O’Brien crossed the Atlantic on a loan with Wayne Rooney’s DC United in MLS.
Now the midfielder is back on English soil and the possibility of another loan move to a Championship club looms on the horizon.
While Sheffield United eagerly await Manchester City’s decision on James McAtee’s potential loan return, they are also wary of PSV Eindhoven’s interest in Bayern Munich’s impressive midfielder Malik Tillman.
Tillman made a significant impact last season during his time at Rangers and caught the eye of United, who view him as a long-term replacement for talented Sander Berge, whose contract is due to expire next year.
The stakes are high as these two Premier League rivals battle it out to keep the promising midfielder, although the transfer window drama is far from over.
Nottingham Forest start their Premier League campaign at Arsenal, while debutants Sheffield United welcome Crystal Palace in their first games.
James McAtee believes his time on loan at Sheffield United has turned him into a man, but is relishing the opportunity of a life back at three-time winners Manchester City.
Blades wary of PSV Eindhoven’s interest in impressive Bayern Munich midfielder Malik Tillman, who has made a successful move to Rangers and could replace Sander Berge
Despite his promising potential, O’Brien struggled to claim a regular place in the Forest squad, with the club acquiring over 30 astonishing players ahead of their return to the Premier League.