Wrexham AFC hit major stumbling block in club-record pursuit of Nottingham Forest man | OneFootball

The Red Dragons are finding it tough to agree terms with the midfielder

Wrexham have hit a major stumbling block in their club-record pursuit of Nottingham Forest midfielder, Lewis O'Brien.

That is according to a fresh update from Alan Nixon via Patreon, which states that the newly-promoted Red Dragons are finding it extremely difficult to agree personal terms with the 26-year-old, who has been of interest to several Championship clubs since the opening of the current transfer window.

The ambition of the North Wales outfit under the ownership of Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney has been well-publicised, with Wrexham expected to spend big ahead of their first season at second tier level since 1982, as well as rivalling the likes of Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton for several high-profile transfer raids.

O'Brien is a name who falls under said category having been linked with the Saints, and whilst Phil Parkinson is looking to bolster his midfield ranks with further quality and experience at this level, the deal is in jeopardy as things currently stand.

Wrexham AFC's ambitious move for Nottingham Forest's Lewis O'Brien in doubt

O'Brien moved to his current employers alongside Harry Toffolo in a joint deal from Huddersfield Town, just weeks after Forest defeated the Terriers in the play-off final back in 2022, with the combined deal costing the club a reported £10m.

However, the Colchester-born man has made just 17 appearances for the Premier League side during his three-year stint thus far, which has included loan spells with Middlesbrough, D.C United, LAFC and most recently, Swansea City.

The box-to-box midfielder impressed during his brief stint in South Wales, meaning it was no surprise that he has been targeted by the Swans alongside Birmingham City, Southampton, Preston North End and Hull City as well as Wrexham, although the Tigers' plans of a £5m swoop have been scuppered after being hit with a three-window transfer fee ban.

Wrexham have reportedly made a bid of the same figure despite the fact Forest value O'Brien at £8m, although the East Midlands side are willing to drop their asking price in order to accelerate his departure from the City Ground.

However, the Welsh club have hit a major stumbling block, with Nixon's fresh update claiming that the Red Dragons are struggling to offer O'Brien a strong enough contract, with the terms on offer "well below" what he currently earns under Nuno Espírito Santo, meaning the transfer has been plunged into doubt at present.

Wrexham AFC will hope to reach swift conclusion in Lewis O'Brien contract saga

According to Capology - a site which ESTIMATES the career earnings of players - O'Brien's contract with Forest sees him take home a weekly salary of £15,000 per week, although his earnings in loan spells with LAFC and Swansea are way above such a figure.

Wrexham also had the third-largest wage bill in League One last season according to the site, although the financial disparity between the second and third tier is evident in the fact that the ESTIMATED £205,200 weekly figure was only greater than two sides in the Championship last term - Portsmouth and Plymouth Argyle.

It was also reported in May that the club from the Racecourse Ground have £25m to work with this summer, although that will factor in both transfer fees and wages, which is clearly where this particular transfer deal has become unstuck.

It is clear that Parkinson is looking to add further technical ability and experience to this department, and O'Brien would definitely bring that with a record of 9 goals and 11 assists from a deep-lying midfield position in the Championship, therefore meaning the club must look to find a resolution as swiftly as possible before the saga puts divisional rivals on red alert.