"Fit the bill" - West Brom: Carlos Corberan told to pursue Nottingham Forest transfer | OneFootball

We asked our West Brom fan pundit about his club's links with Lewis O'Brien

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

West Brom have been told to pursue the signing of Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien after they were recently named as one of the clubs interested in signing him.

A report from TEAMtalk has revealed the 26-year-old is attracting interest from a number of English clubs, including Southampton, Leeds, West Brom, Sheffield United, Stoke and Hull after impressing in the MLS with LAFC.

It's been a strange couple of seasons for O'Brien, and after helping Huddersfield Town to the Championship play-off final in 2022, he was signed by Nottingham Forest, and while he's still contracted to the Reds, he's spent time on loan with DC United, Middlesbrough and LAFC in recent seasons.

However, he's impressed across the pond in the MLS, and TEAMtalk have reported that it's unlikely that he features in Forest's plans going forward, so a number of English clubs are keeping tabs on him despite the option-to-buy at LAFC.

West Brom told to pursue deal for Lewis O'Brien

We asked our West Brom fan pundit, Callum Burgess, about whether he was keen on signing O'Brien, and he believes it would be a good move, particularly with Carlos Corberan having worked with him at Huddersfield Town.

Speaking to Football League World, Callum said: "It feels like every club has those sort of players that those rumours don’t go away, and the player is linked with the club every year, and West Brom, since Carlos Corberan’s appointment, Lewis O’Brien has fit the bill as one of those players.

"We’ve been linked with him quite a few times. He was one of the best players at Huddersfield Town under Corberan when they reached the play-off final, and he’d be a welcome addition to the squad and someone that the Albion fans would take too quite easily.

"His workrate and off the ball work ethic is really good, and he’s one of those players that will work tirelessly for a team and while Albion already have that in Molumby, I think O’Brien would be an upgrade on him.

"I think a midfield of Mowatt, Racic and O’Brien could work with Albion’s options at number 10 being a bit frustrating, so if we did move to a flat midfield three with Mowatt in the holding role, O’Brien and Racic either side of him, I think that could be an option for the future.

"Who knows really? I think in January it’s the time for Albion to make a move for someone who has that bit of quality to improve the squad and I think O’Brien is someone who could do that."

Corberan was O'Brien's manager at Huddersfield Town, where they enjoyed huge success during the 2021/22 season, making it to the Championship play-off final against the odds, and a reunion may appeal to both parties.

The pair worked well together at the John Smith's Stadium, and after an unfortunate couple of seasons in English football, if O'Brien wants to return to the English game, then working with a manager who he has previously enjoyed success with could be a tempting option for him.

Corberan knows how to get the best of him, and as Callum alluded to above, he could suit the Baggies this season too.

O'Brien has proven Championship quality, and it's easy to see why so many clubs want to sign him, and The Hawthorns faithful will hope that the 26-year-old's previous links with Corberan will convince him to join the Baggies.