Top-flight trio keen to sign O’Brien this month
REPORTS claim a trio of Premier League clubs are vying to sign Terriers midfielder Lewis O’Brien.
Football Insider say Sheffield United, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace are all tracking O’Brien’s progress, adding: “A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Huddersfield are willing to cash in on O’Brien this month for the right price.”
However, the Examiner understands that while O’Brien of course has a price, that makes him no different to any other player at any other
Championship club.
We can also confirm the club have no burning desire to sell the midfielder, who many fans regard as a potential future Huddersfield Town captain, and that no transfer bids have been received.
This is not the first time O’Brien has been connected with Sheffield United, whose claimed interest was first touted during the mid-season hiatus last spring.
But Blades boss Chris Wilder told Yorkshire Live last month he does not expect to do any permanent transfers in the January window. Unless that has changed, it is unlikely they would move for the energetic midfielder now.
O’Brien’s contract at the John Smith’s Stadium began in July 2019 when he was yet to make a first-team appearance.
The academy graduate has emerged as the Terriers’ standout performer and was the landslide winner in the fan-voted player of the season award.
O’Brien is halfway through his current deal, which runs until summer 2022, though the club have the option to trigger an extra year’s extension.
His excellent form last season has inevitably led to a general background hum of speculation about his future, with Burnley also constantly linked with a move.
CARLOS Corberan could turn to academy graduate Scott High against Watford after losing loanee Carel Eiting to what could be a season-ending injury.
The Dutchman has had knee surgery and will now be evaluated by Ajax’s medical team, but is
DERBY County midfielder and former Terrier Duane Holmes has been linked with a transfer back to the John Smith’s Stadium.
Football Insider report that the Rams would be open to cashing in on Holmes, whose contract is set to expire in the summer.
Holmes came through the academy at Town and made 26 appearances for the club between 2013 and 2016.
He then left to join Scunthorpe United, where his good form earned expected to be out for at least three to four months and looks unlikely to appear for the Terriers again.
Eiting had been a regular in the Huddersfield Town midfield this season, so his injury opens up an opportunity for someone else to step into the side.
And Terriers boss Corberan has indicated the most likely contenders to do just that are former academy player of the year High, who spent the first half of this season on loan at Shrewsbury, and Alex Vallejo, who made his first start for Town last week.
However, the Watford game comes too soon for Alex Pritchard to play a part despite returning to training this week.
Asked who was in his thoughts to replace Eiting, the Terriers head coach said: “One of the players that I am thinking of is Scott High because he was on loan in the first part of the season in League One.
“He’s a player who’s been working with us for the last week and, of course, he is one of the options for us in the middle of the pitch.
“We’re hoping that Alex Vallejo is another player who can play in the middle of the pitch too, so I think it’s possible to play with one of these players or maybe with both players.” High was unable to play against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup third round as he was cup-tied but he has featured for the Terriers first team before – he came on as a late substitute at Millwall on the final day of last season.
Many fans will be unfamiliar with what High would bring to the side, so we asked Corberan to fill us in.
“The first thing is a lot of energy. He plays with a lot of ambition, a lot of effort, a lot of determination,” said the Terriers boss.
“He has the personality to play because he wants the ball, he wants
Scott plays with a lot of ambition, a lot of effort, a lot of determination. He wants the ball, he
wants to attack