According to TeamTalk, Leeds United are “ready to pounce” on Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien in the summer. In recent transfer windows, the Whites have been heavily tipped to sign the dynamic midfielder, and it appears they haven’t given up on him just yet.
The midfielder’s future might be decided as soon as next week, as he is expected to leave if Huddersfield do not clinch promotion to the Premier League. The highly-rated midfielder has a 12 million pounds release clause in his contract which won’t be a problem for Leeds to activate if the Peacocks are successful in convincing the 23-year-old to come to Elland Road with plenty of Premier League clubs also in the race for the player’s signature.
This season, O’Brien has been one of the Championship’s standout players once again. Leeds have been following him since the days of Marcelo Bielsa. The midfield needed to be strengthened, but the Argentine failed to do so – a mistake that has backfired this season with the Peacocks struggling with a lack of depth in midfield.
Kalvin Philipps has been on the sidelines for the most part of the season which has affected the performances of the team on the pitch. Marsch’s men are currently 18th in the league level on points with Burnley who have a game in hand. The absence of key players throughout the season has cost the Yorkshire club dearly this season after an impressive first season in the Premier League last year where they finished 9th.
O’Brien has three goals and three assists this season and has been a steady force in midfield for the Terriers. Huddersfield are in the playoffs, and if they do not get a promotion, O’Brien might be pursued by a number of Premier League clubs. His future is now mainly dependent on Huddersfield’s promotion push.
Kalvin Philipps is likely to depart the club at the end of the season, but if Leeds survives relegation, the England international is likely to stay. The release clause in O’Brien’s contract is comfortably within the club’s budget to replace Philipps next season, although any potential move to Elland Road will be heavily dependent on where Leeds finishes the season. If they are relegated to the Championship, they will have to reconsider their transfer strategy.
