West Brom hit by £10million requirement to take Lewis O’Brien from Nottingham Forest
West Brom have been told they have to agree to a £10million obligation if they want Lewis O’Brien on loan from Nottingham Forest, Simon Stone reports.
The Baggies are keen on bringing in the midfielder before the end of the window as the continued recruitment at the City Ground has meant the former Huddersfield man is available despite only arriving in the summer.
But committing to a hefty permanent fee might have now put the deal out of reach with promotion far from guaranteed despite a major lift in form under Carlos Corberan.
Reporting on Twitter on Monday (30 January) BBC Sport journalist Stone wrote: “Told Jonjo Shelvey’s imminent arrival means Lewis O’Brien will be allowed to leave Forest on loan.
“However, sources also indicate Forest looking to insert £10m ‘obligation to buy clause’.
“WBA in particular couldn’t commit to that given current league position.”
Over?
If this is an obligation to make the deal permanent at the end of the season whatever happens then there looks like little prospect that West Brom can take the risk of having to pay it while still in the Championship.
If it is dependant on promotion then perhaps the door might still be open, given the riches on offer when making it back to the top flight.
Corberan is looking to add to his squad before Tuesday’s (31 January) deadline, with the Daily Mail suggesting a positive outcome in the pursuits of both O’Brien and Fulham’s Nathaniel Chalobah in their Sunday report (29 January).
But the latest update has come as a blow to the prospects of making the former a Baggies player for the rest of the season, as the club looks to secure a play off place.
The Athletic had reported on 28 January that Albion were “close” to a deal for the 24-year-old Forest man, who started the season as a regular in Steve Cooper’s line up, but since their form has improved and lessened the therat of relegation his involvement has become more infrequent.
Unless all alternative suitors move on and the Premier League side become more pressed to find a taker as the hours tick down on deadline day, this one looks like it might join the pile with Josh Onomah and Steven Alzate as recent loan deals that never were despite looking close.
In other West Brom news, surgery news from the manager has come as a major blow to the Baggies’ season.