Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien is a priority for Phil Parkinson this summer, and he will be happy about the latest update regarding the Wrexham target.
Wrexham are targeting Premier League and Championship experience this summer, with midfielders of the utmost priority for Phil Parkinson.
It looks as though the Red Dragons have moved on from Tom Cairney, who is now set to stay at Fulham, but Wrexham have targeted Lewis O’Brien as a top alternative.
O’Brien has notched game time in both the Premier League and Championship, and notably spent half of last season on loan at fellow second-tier side Swansea City.
Signing O’Brien permanently could be a significant outlay for Wrexham, who are fighting other Championship clubs for his signature. Fortunately for Parkinson and the Red Dragons, they have received a huge boost in the ongoing pursuit.
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Wrexham set to benefit as Hull City play down Lewis O’Brien interest
Wrexham were set to battle with Hull City to sign O’Brien from Premier League side Nottingham Forest, but now, per a report from the Hull Daily Mail, the Tigers are set to move on from their pursuit of the 26-year-old.
A move to Hull City for O’Brien is now highly unlikely, with the Tigers set to look elsewhere in Europe as an alternative for the Forest man. The high price tag likely slapped on O’Brien is a deterrent for Hull in pursuing a move for the midfielder.
Another side that is in for O’Brien are Birmingham City, who have been told that an £8million outlay might be required to attain the services of O’Brien in a permanent deal.
Wrexham must observe all options before a significant financial outlay
It is clear that Parkinson is prioritising proven Championship quality this summer, and O’Brien fits the bill for that, having often shone at this level.
However, when it comes with an £8million price tag for the 26-year-old, there needs to be confidence amongst the hierarchy that he is worth such a massive amount.
Wrexham were, if maybe a little too ambitious, but also on the right lines by looking to sign Cairney previously – a player with experience at this level, but also one who would only require a financial outlay for his wages.
Paying £8million in the Championship is a massive amount, and it should only be reserved for if there are no other suitable options for Wrexham to go for.
The message to the board should be that the free agent market should be fully explored before any drastic decisions are made regarding O’Brien.