Medical scheduled: Blackburn beat West Brom to Lewis O’Brien signing from Nottingham Forest
Blackburn Rovers have blown West Brom out of the water with the Lancashire club closing on a major last-ditch deal to sign Baggies target Lewis O’Brien from Nottingham Forest, according to Sun journalist Alan Nixon.
The 24-year-old midfielder had long been a target of former manager Carlos Coberan who was reportedly keen to reunite with the player following their successful campaign last term with Huddersfield [The Athletic, 28 January].
The Baggies had reportedly “jumped to the front of the queue” for the signature of O’Brien, with several other Championship clubs interested in the deal.
However, a proposed move to reunite with Coberan now looks dead in the water according to reports.
The Sun journalist Nixon, writing on his personal Patreon page, has revealed that Championship promotion rivals Blackburn Rovers are closing in on a deal for the 24-year-old with Forest clearing O’Brien to undertake a medical at the Lancashire outfit in a last-ditch deadline-day move.
The move could reportedly become permanent for £10m providing the Rovers get promoted to the Premier League next season.
Huge blow
This latest news comes as a huge blow to the Baggies chances of a swift promotion to the English top flight.
The fact that their play-off rivals have managed to swoop in and secure O’Brien’s services will hurt Corberan and the Baggies faithful.
Given the player’s quality in midfield and his experience at a play-off battle, he could well have propelled the Baggies even further in their Premier League pursuit, having done so under Corberan at Huddersfield.
The Baggies are set to complete the signing of Nathaniel Chalobah from Fulham [5:47pm, Sky Sports News, 31 January]. but adding O’Brien too could have been deemed a sensational piece of business this month.
West Brom’s loss is Blackburn’s tremendous gain. Will this deal prove decisive in the race for Premier League promotion?
In other West Brom news, Celtic have accepted an offer from the Baggies for this January signing.