Lewis O’Brien from Huddersfield Town to Nottingham Forest: Is it a good potential move? Would he start? What does he offer?

Nottingham Forest are considering a transfer swoop for Huddersfield Town‘s Lewis O’Brien, as per the Daily Mail, this summer, after the box-to-box midfielder was a standout player in the Terriers’ third placed finish in the Championship last season.

The 23-year-old has come on leaps and bounds in the last season and a half under Carlos Corberan, so much so that it would probably be a surprise to see him begin 2022/23 outside of the Premier League.

The engine roomer has some similarities in his style of play to West Ham United and England midfielder Declan Rice, and it would be interesting to monitor his progress in making the step up to the top-flight.

Is it a good potential move?

Definitely.

With Steve Cooper’s reputation for developing younger players, O’Brien would be confident that the Welshman would improve him as a player, and that the Terriers would be well-compensated for the transfer having recently won promotion to the Premier League.

Mentally, there would have to be a significant shift after tasting defeat painfully to the Reds in the Championship play-off final a matter of months ago, but O’Brien is professional enough to ensure that would not impact how he settled in at the City Ground.

Would he start?

Forest are very light in central midfield areas as it stands, with Ryan Yates seeming like the only player capable in that position of making the leap to top-flight football.

Harry Arter, who spent time on loan in the National League last season, Cafu and Jack Colback have their best years behind them in their careers, meaning that O’Brien walks into the team due to a lack of alternatives at the moment.

What does he offer?

O’Brien is something of a manager’s dream in a number eight role.

The 23-year-old is