Huddersfield Town are revisiting old ground this summer, with Lewis O’Brien’s future a hot topic. 

The saga is not identical to 12 months ago in that O’Brien has a decent contract at the John Smith’s Stadium behind him, yet Huddersfield are in a familiar position in that they are just waiting for a bid that’s too good to turn down to come in and take him to the Premier League.

It didn’t come 12 months ago and, as things stand, Football League World understands it’s not come yet this summer. The speculation is there, though, with reports from Alan Nixon over the weekend suggesting that there might be a £10m bid from Nottingham Forest on the horizon.

Forest edged Huddersfield out of May’s play-off final to book their Premier League return. It’s easy to see why they want to take O’Brien with them too, as Steve Cooper aims to strengthen a midfield unit that’s lost James Garner and looks worryingly reliant on Ryan Yates.

Cooper is a coach that develops players and he will like what he sees in O’Brien, whose game has continued to evolve under Carlos Corberan’s watch in the last 12 months.

Last season’s numbers in the Championship - plucked from Wyscout - outline where O’Brien’s strengths are, driving out of the midfield and proving to be the combative presence in the engine room.

108 progressive runs came across the season at an average of over two every 90 minutes. Attempted in that is an average of four dribbles per game, showcasing the 23-year-old’s desire to get on the ball, manouvre into dangerous positions and be positive.

O’Brien is a strong ball carrier, yet he is equally impressive when it comes to winning possession back in the midfield. Across 2021/22 he averaged 3.36 interceptions and 6.77 ball recoveries every 90 minutes. Overall, he was successful in 57.3% of his defensive duels.

Both with and without the ball, O’Brien is a menace right across the midfield - as the heat map below shows. Another plus Forest will have recognised is the high number of minutes O’Brien plays. 4,441 in total in the Championship last season, each of which brought the same level of energy.

Despite some obvious strengths, O’Brien is far from the finished article and there are areas of his game that need significantly working on.

For example, O’Brien is well aware that his decision-making in the final third could be better. He scored three goals and registered a single assist last season, with an xA of 2.25 from 33 shooting opportunities he created. He also accrued a pass percentage narrowly over 80%, which could be a lot sharper and will probably have to be in the Premier League.

 

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That’s the fine-tuning that Cooper would have to oversee with O’Brien. Corberan has ensured there’s a focus on improving the productivity in the final third, so the foundations are there to build on.

Yet, it would be foolish for Forest fans to dismiss O’Brien because of his average numbers when it comes to goals and assists. If they sign him, they are getting their hands on a box-to-box midfielder with bags of energy and scope to grow still.

Huddersfield won’t stand in his way if a Premier League opportunity comes his way this summer, and said club coughs up enough money, of course. However, they will happily retain O’Brien for 2022/23 and gleefully lean on his robust talent for another Championship season.

The truth is, though, that it would be a surprise if someone in the top-flight didn’t take the plunge with O’Brien this summer. He’s had another 12 months producing solid numbers in the Championship and is primed that little bit better for the Premier League now.