Wrexham have agreed a club-record deal for Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien.
The Hollywood-owned outfit are looking to strengthen ahead of their first season back in the second tier since the 1981/82 season, as they target a stunning fourth consecutive promotion.
GettyLewis O’Brien has made just 17 appearances for Nottingham Forest in three years[/caption]After being purchased by A-list actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney back in November 2020, the Welsh side have enjoyed a meteoric rise through the divisions.
Promotion from League One in April marked the Robins’ third straight promotion, who now sit just one division below the Premier League, despite playing in the National League as recently as 2023.
And they now look set to make their latest statement of intent by moving to sign a player of top-flight calibre.
The Championship new boys have reportedly agreed a deal worth up to £5million for Forest‘s O’Brien, according to The Sun.
Since making the move to the City Ground from Huddersfield in 2022, the 26-year-old has struggled to establish himself in Nuno Espirito Santo’s starting XI.
He spent the second half of last season on loan at Swansea, where he once again proved his Championship credentials by making 16 appearances, scoring once.
But while Forest are prepared to let O’Brien leave after having their asking price met, there remains a potential obstacle to the move.
Wrexham are said to be struggling to meet the Englishman’s salary demands, with their terms well below what he is currently on.
This has put the transfer in doubt, with a compromise needing to be reaching during wage discussions in order for O’Brien to swap the East Midlands for Wales.
The Dragons have already made two signings since reaching the second tier.
Wrexham co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds are ready to break new ground to bring O’Brien to the clubGetty The midfielder started all 16 of his games in the Championship for Swansea last termGettyRyan Hardie was snapped up from relegated Plymouth for £825,000, having netted 10 goals in the Championship last term.
Meanwhile former Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward arrived on a free transfer following the expiration of his Foxes contract.
However, their most eye-catching piece of business so far has been to loan club legend Paul Mullin to Wigan.
The striker netted 105 goals in 165 games to help Wrexham achieve promotion from the National League and League Two.
But Mullin found himself out of favour under Phil Parkinson last season, paving the way for a move back to League One.
Nonetheless, the 30-year-old later labelled the decision a “strange situation“, when speaking to talkSPORT.
Paul Mullin will spend the 2025/26 season on loan away from Wrexham after scoring just three goals in League One last termGettyShould Wrexham secure the signing of O’Brien, he would bring plenty of Championship experience to their team.
He first made a name for himself with Huddersfield, where he established himself as a mainstay in the first team after rising through the club’s youth ranks.
O’Brien made 123 second tier appearances for the Terriers in the over three seasons, catching the eye of Forest, who moved to sign him following their return to the big time in 2022.
But he failed to make himself a regular fixture for the Reds, featuring 13 times in the Premier League in his debut season, before being loaned out to MLS side DC United on a short-term deal in March 2023.
A loan back to the Championship with Middlesbrough followed that August, where O’Brien featured 23 times in an injury-hit campaign.
The midfielder returned to the MLS for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign, joining Los Angeles FC, before his most recent loan spell at Swansea came about in January.
O’Brien has not featured for Forest since 25 January 2023, where he played 17 minutes of an EFL Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Wrexham ‘agree club record deal’ to sign Premier League midfielder in ambitious move )
Also on site :