"A lot of money" - No Sheffield United regret with midfield target set for £7m move | OneFootball

The midfielder is set to join LAFC permanently from Nottingham Forest despite interest from the Blades.

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...

Sheffield United have recovered excellently from their first two defeats of the season to come back and win their last two matches in the Championship.

A comfortable 2-0 win away at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday was a statement from Chris Wilder's side as they go hunting for an instant return to the Premier League after relegation last season.

It's been an excellent campaign so far for the Blades, who would be two points off the top of the table if they had not been deducted two before a ball had even been kicked, but the atmosphere around Bramall Lane is a positive one and there is a real belief that promotion is on the cards.

However, they will seemingly have to do that without transfer target Lewis O'Brien, whose loan move from Nottingham Forest to LAFC in the MLS is set to become permanent for £7m, according to Alan Nixon. While there may be disappointment to have missed out on a player of his quality, the multi-million pound fee was perhaps a stretch too far for Sheffield United.

O'Brien's decision to join LAFC questioned

The 26-year-old is very familiar with Yorkshire already, having spent the start of his career at Huddersfield Town, as well as spending a short-time on loan at Bradford City, before joining Forest ahead of the 2022/23 campaign in the Premier League.

However, it has not worked out since making the move to the East Midlands, and loan moves to Middlesbrough and LAFC have slowly got his career back on track. With the Reds flying in the top flight of English football, his services are no longer required, and he has been allowed to move on permanently.

The Blades were one of several Championship clubs interested in the midfielder, but are set to miss out on him and Football League World has asked their Sheffield United Fan Pundit, Jimmy from Blades Ramble, if he believes it is a missed opportunity, or if the price tag was too much to pay.

He told FLW: "Lewis O'Brien, £7 million, it's a lot of money, it's a lot of money.

"I also, and this isn't me being salty, but I do question his ambition. I appreciate the lifestyle in America will be fantastic and if that's what he chooses to do with his career, absolutely more power to him, but we have the chance of becoming, or a strong chance, I believe, of becoming a Premier League club next season.

"So, I think it's a little bit unambitious, if I'm honest, albeit he's chosen lifestyle over that sort of ambition, if you like."

Jimmy continued: "£7 million, it's high, it's high. It's not necessarily too high, but for us, it probably is because if he was coming in as a starter, then yes you can push the boat to that sort of number, but he wouldn't start for Sheffield United at the moment.

"Oli Arblaster and Vini Souza are the pair and Sydie Peck is pushing them quite hard; Gus Hamer can't get in the team at the minute. So, Lewis O'Brien, a good player I would have liked to have seen him in a United shirt, he's been linked on and off so many times. But probably not for £7 million."

Sydie Peck should be the focus in the coming years

While it will be slightly disappointing to have missed out on a target like O'Brien, it is perhaps the perfect opportunity to give Peck the chance to shine even further now, with the youngster now the one true backup to Arblaster and Souza.

He has the quality to become a mainstay in the midfield in the coming years, and at just 20 years old, he has six years on the LAFC man.

Peck has the potential to become a much better player than O'Brien and is already adored by supporters at Bramall Lane, despite only making his debut in December, and playing nine league games since then.

Wilder can mould Peck into the player that he needs in his midfield, and he still has that rawness in him to take chances that perhaps would not be taken by a more seasoned pro, something that could pay off.

Sheffield United at this stage.