“Has the ingredients” – Sheffield United eye Nottingham Forest player as Sander Berge replacement: The verdict | OneFootball

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘The Verdict‘ series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Sheffield United are reportedly eyeing Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien as a potential replacement for Sander Berge.

Berge has been linked with a move to a host of Premier League clubs, including Fulham and Newcastle United, and Paul Heckingbottom has indicated that potential replacements are being lined up.

Journalist Alan Nixon has reported that the Championship club would be keen to sign O’Brien, who has also been linked with Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion, if they lost the Norway international.

So would that be a good signing for the Blades? And would O’Brien fill the void left by Berge?

We quizzed our FLW writers…

Ned Holmes

Lewis O’Brien would be a fantastic addition for Sheffield United and could help to fill the void if Sander Berge leaves.

That’s not to say that O’Brien is quite at the level of Berge but we saw him perform a similar role to the Norwegian for Huddersfield Town last season.

The way the 24-year-old carries the ball forward and opens up defences with his driving runs has been an essential part of United’s success this term and the Forest midfielder possesses the qualities to do similar.

We saw him turn the ball over in midfield and hurt teams in transition time after time for Huddersfield last term, and we know he can perform consistently at Championship level.

Things haven’t worked out for O’Brien at the City Ground but Bramall Lane would be a great landing spot if Berge departs.

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Adam Jones

Technically, O’Brien would be one of the best players in the Championship if he takes the step back down.

Like Berge, the ex-Huddersfield Town man can be a real asset in the final third and would certainly be a statement signing for the Blades.

O’Brien may also be available more often than Berge who has suffered from several injury setbacks since his arrival at Bramall Lane, so this could definitely be a good addition for the Blades who will want someone to come in and mitigate the effects of the Norwegian’s potential departure.

The Nottingham Forest man certainly has the ingredients to be an adequate replacement – and it may not cost the Blades too much either if he came in on loan.

In the summer, United can then try and sign a long-term replacement for Berge, whether that’s O’Brien or someone else. The latter may not have made a big impact in the Premier League this season – but he can be a game-changer in the second tier.

Billy Mulley

There is no playing down how big of a blow it will be for Sheffield United to lose Sander Berge this window, especially when they are restricted in what they can do from a potential incomings perspective.

Evidently of Premier League quality, Berge deserves a top-flight move, but ultimately, he is an integral figure for the Blades as they chase down automatic promotion.

However, as a potential replacement for Berge, what an addition Lewis O’Brien would be.

Not only is he extremely technically gifted and someone who sees the game quicker than most, his intelligence and energy shown when pressing makes him a really difficult opponent to come up against.

O’Brien is a player who will ensure that standards remain high at Bramall Lane as they look to secure promotion back to the Premier League.