Championship sides Birmingham City and Southampton are set to face off in the race to sign Nottingham Forest’s Lewis O’Brien, who appears to be on his way out of the City Ground.
The two clubs, who were playing in League One and the Premier League, respectively, last season, are both interested in the midfielder, who has made just 17 appearances for the East Midlands side over the past three years.
He spent the second half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at second-tier side Swansea City but may seal a permanent move to either the Blues or the Saints, as reported by journalist Alan Nixon.
Two sides battle for O’Brien’s signature
The 26-year-old former Huddersfield Town man has struggled for game time at Forest since joining from the Terriers in 2022, instead being sent out on four different loan spells.
Two of those were with American sides DC United and Los Angeles FC, as well as spending time with Middlesbrough and Swansea.
He has one year left on his contract with the Premier League side but appears to be firmly out of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo’s plans, having not played for the side since January 2023, 11 months before the Portuguese man’s arrival.
After plenty of short-term moves, a permanent deal would suit all parties and give O’Brien the chance to put his disappointing time at the City Ground behind him.
Birmingham will return to the second tier next season off the back of breaking the League One points record, with 111, in Chris Davies’ first year at the helm.
On the other hand, Southampton endured a disastrous season, collecting just 12 points and finishing 26 adrift of safety in the top flight, but have since put former Reims and Lens manager Will Still in charge, at the age of just 32.
O’Brien’s experience in the Championship, including reaching the 2022 play-off final with Huddersfield before moving to Forest, who beat the Terriers 1-0 in that game, would be vital to both teams as they aim to finish in the top end of the table.
What type of player is he?
O’Brien is an energetic midfielder who carries and wins the ball well and was one of the stars of Carlos Corberán’s Huddersfield side.
In the 2021/22 season, he ranked in the Championship’s top seven for ball recoveries (311), tackles made (96), tackles won (57) and fouls drawn (95), according to FBref.
He excelled in tackles in the middle third of the pitch, making more than any other player in the league with 60.
He also made the top 15 for progressive carries and total distance carried throughout the season.
This shows the areas of his game he excels in and the role he should be used in to bring out the best in his performances.
Which side would be the best option for him?
Birmingham played a very possession-based style of football last season under Davies as they stormed to the league title at the first opportunity, averaging 67% possession per game and topping the rankings for passes made and successful passes.
They also pressed well and won more turnovers in high areas than any other team, which would suit O’Brien and his ball-winning ability.
In Will Still’s most recent managerial spell, his Lens side finished eighth in Ligue 1 and played a similar style to Birmingham, coming in the division’s top six for average possession (54%) and passes made.
They also came third for pressing sequences and fifth for turnovers in high areas, showing a style of play that would suit O’Brien.
Therefore, if Still brings the same style to Southampton, both the Saints and Birmingham would seem like good options to bring out the best in his game.
Despite interest from Swansea in bringing O’Brien back to South Wales, a move to the Blues could be ideal for both parties, with the midfielder bringing much-needed Championship experience to the side as they step up a division and them allowing him to re-start his career after a messy few years, in a system that suits his play style.