Leeds United are reportedly set to reignite their interest in Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O'Brien. The Whites were in for the 23-year-old last summer but were unable to come to an agreement with the Terriers for O'Brien's signature.
However, Leeds are understood to be back in for O'Brien this summer as they look to boost and improve their squad which narrowly escaped relegation on the final day of the Premier League season.
LeedsLive takes a look at what coaches, team mates and former players have had to say about the Huddersfield Town midfielder.
'He drives the team with his energy and forward runs'
One player who is more than familiar with O'Brien is Huddersfield Town teammate Jonathan Hogg. The Terriers captain believes O'Brien has attributes that rank among the best the 33-year-old has seen during his career.
"I think it's only a matter of time before he plays in the Premier League," said Hogg. "He has a lot of great attributes, his energy and intensity is sensational, up there with the best I've seen in my career.
"He certainly drives the team with his energy and forward runs, it helps the team massively. Lewis is a good lad and he's grounded, down to earth but it's only a matter of time before he does play at the top level."
'I don’t see limits in his potential'
Jonathan Hogg's praise is certainly echoed by Terriers manager Carlos Corberan. Since Corberan's arrival in July 2020, O'Brien has been a main stay in Huddersfield's side that will earn a spot in the Premier League if they overcome Nottingham Forest in the Championship play-off final.
“He is a brilliant player, there are two things," Corberan told YorkshireLive. "Firstly this year he has played as number three as a left-back and a wing-back, in his best position in midfield as a number eight, as number eleven, as a ten, and even as a number seven the other day in the change to a 3-4-3 he spent some minutes playing on the right.
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“But it’s not only the fact that Lewis O'Brien can compete at a top-level every single time he plays whatever position he is on the football pitch, it’s how he reacts to how you make him play in different positions. There is what makes him a special player and that is the fact that means I don’t see limits in his career and I don’t see limits in his potential.”
“Some players limit themselves when you move them, O’Brien is one player who will never limit himself because he is motivated to compete in every single space, in every single moment, in every single minute of the season,” said Town’s head coach.
“He does it all with a level of humility that means he is going to be an exceptional player and he is never going to stop growing.”
'He’s got a bit of everything'
Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff reckons it's only a matter of time before O'Brien makes the step up to the Premier League.
“I’m going to go with Lewis O’Brien, he’s probably not a household name but he’s a midfielder who, for me, has been a massive part of that Huddersfield team," said McAnuff when asked about EFL players who could make the step up to the Premier League.
“He’s only 23 years of age but he’s had four real good, solid seasons now at this level and he’s really, really developing. He’s led the team at times, captaining in the absence of Jonathan Hogg.
“He can play central midfield, he’s got a bit of everything; he’s a good tackler, carries the ball ever so well and you can see him popping up with a few goals this season. He literally is a midfielder who’s got every part of his game and I certainly feel there’d be some premier league clubs knocking if Huddersfield don’t get through the play-offs.”
'He’s always been a thinker'
Bradford City academy manager Neil Matthews recalled how good O'Brien was from an early age after the two crossed paths during the former's spell with Huddersfield's academy.
“I did a lot of work with the A licence and more in-depth analysis and he turned out to be the key player in the group,” Matthews told the Telegraph and Argus.
“Looking back, Lewis was very good one v one and a lot of attributes around his psychology were very good. I wouldn’t have known at that time that he would have made the progress that he has. You’re never quite sure. But from 13 onwards, he started to really stand out.
“He’s always been a thinker. You could speak to Lewis after a game and he could recite all the details of what had happened, which I found remarkable. I played a good level myself but he was far better than anything I could recall.
“He studied the game when he was playing. There were times when he wouldn’t switch off because he was over-thinking when he was 15 or 16.
