How much Lewis O’Brien earns at Nottingham Forest as Birmingham City and Southampton FC plot transfer | OneFootball

Birmingham City and Southampton are both set to enter the race to sign Lewis O'Brien this summer.

Lewis O’Brien has emerged as a potential transfer target for Birmingham City and Southampton this summer amid uncertainty over his Nottingham Forest future.

It was reported by journalist Alan Nixon that the Championship duo are the latest clubs to show an interest in the midfielder.

The 26-year-old spent last season out on loan with LAFC and then Swansea City, featuring 16 times in the second tier with the Swans.

He helped Alan Sheehan’s side clinch an 11th-place finish in the Championship last term, with the Jacks missing out on the play-offs by seven points.

Here we use estimated figures from Capology to look at O’Brien’s current Nottingham Forest salary to see how much Southampton or Birmingham might need to pay the player, should he sign for them this summer…

Lewis O’Brien’s Nottingham Forest wages

O’Brien has struggled for game-time since signing for Nottingham Forest in the 2022 summer transfer window.

The midfielder made the switch from Huddersfield Town after the Reds won the play-off final against Carlos Corberan’s side.

He featured just 13 times in the Premier League in his first season at the City Ground, which have so far been his only appearances in the top flight.

The 26-year-old joined as part of a four-year deal with Nottingham Forest, which earned him a contract worth £15,000 per week.

The average salary in Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad last season was worth £31,871-a-week, meaning the midfielder was one of the lower-paid parts of the first-team squad.

Similarly paid players in the squad include other loanees from the previous campaign, such as Emmanuel Dennis (£12,000 per week), Omar Richards (£10,000) and Andrew Omobamidele (£10,000).

O’Brien’s contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026, meaning he is entering the final 12 months of his time at the Premier League side.

This looks likely to lead to a permanent exit from the City Ground this summer, having spent time on loan at the likes of Middlesbrough, LAFC and Swansea in recent seasons, amid his lack of game time at his parent club.

Southampton and Birmingham City’s wage bills could likely both accommodate O'Brien

Birmingham and Southampton were separated by two divisions last season, but will now both ply their trade in the Championship next year.

The Blues had the largest wage bill in the entirety of League One, with Chris Davies’ side cruising their way to a record points tally of 111 to earn promotion to the second tier for 2025/26.

The Midlands outfit paid a total of £308,000 per week to their squad, meaning O’Brien’s current wages would equal just below 5 per cent.

Meanwhile, Southampton had the 18th highest wage bill in the Premier League, with the Saints paying £971,000 per week to their first team squad, more than three times the amount of Birmingham.

Their highest-paid player was Aaron Ramsdale, with the goalkeeper receiving £120,000 per week, more than one third of the Blues’ entire wage bill.

On that basis, Southampton should more easily be able to afford a competitive contract offer for O’Brien than Brum this summer.

However, Birmingham have ambitious plans to get to the Premier League, and thus are likely to increase the size of their wage bill this summer, which could open the door for a move for the Nottingham Forest player.