"Too big of an opportunity" - Pundit backs Ipswich Town to beat Sheffield United & Middlesbrough to transfer deal | OneFootball

Ipswich Town are reportedly preparing to swoop in on Sheffield United and Middlesbrough target Lewis O'Brien, per Alan Nixon via Patreon, and pundit Carlton Palmer believes a move to the Premier League could be too tempting to turn down.

O'Brien enjoyed an impressive spell with Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough last season, and when fit, reaffirmed his position as one of the best central midfield players in the Championship.

A leader and high-energy player in the heart of the midfield, O'Brien showcased his class back in the 2021/22 season, in which he captained Huddersfield Town all the way to a Championship play-off final campaign at the age of just 22.

His classiness and tidiness in possession means he's rarely seen giving the ball away, and his performances have caught the eye of Tractor Boys boss Kieran McKenna, who is looking to build on his squad after he penned a new contract at Portman Road.

Nixon also revealed that Middlesbrough and Sheffield United were also keen on his services for next season, but it's Ipswich who could move quickly to secure his signature.

Carlton Palmer believes Ipswich Town could be too big to turn down for Lewis O'Brien

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, pundit Carlton Palmer believes that interest from newly promoted Ipswich Town could be too big of an opportunity to turn down for O'Brien this summer, in a move that would leave both the Blades and Boro disappointed.

Palmer told FLW: "It is reported that Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien, who spent last season on loan at Middlesbrough, is set to be sold by the football club.

"Nottingham Forest are facing further problems with the Financial Fair Play (FFP) situation so, it is more than likely that Lewis O'Brien will be sold.

"Much to the likes of Middlesbrough and Sheffield United, - he was on loan at Middlesbrough last season - he's a very industrious, hard-working midfield player. "He only played 23 times for Michael Carrick's side last season due to injury, but when he played, he did impress. "So, Middlesbrough were looking to sign him, and Sheffield United were keen on his services, but now at the eleventh hour, Ipswich Town have made a move for Lewis O'Brien.

"They were keen on Ben Sheaf from Coventry City, but the asking price for Ben Sheaf is going to be in excess of £10 million, and they will be looking to pay a lot less for O'Brien."

The 25-year-old is clearly a player that has been sought after by multiple clubs this summer, but what does Palmer make of Boro and Blades' chances now that the Tractor Boys have arrived with the allure of Premier League football?

"He's a very good midfield player, he played 13 times for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and didn't look out of place," said Palmer.

"So, the opportunity to play in the top flight again with Ipswich, would be too big of an opportunity for him to turn down.

"Disappointment for Middlesbrough and Sheffield United, we'll have to wait and see, but it is reported that the deal is close to being done. And Lewis O'Brien will get his opportunity to apply his talents back in the Premier League."

Lewis O'Brien should take Premier League chance with Ipswich Town

Entering the supposed prime years of his career at age 25, O'Brien should take the chance to strut his stuff amongst the very best this summer.

As Palmer alluded to, the former Huddersfield Town man looked comfortable at Premier League level when handed the opportunity by Forest in the 2022/23 season.

Your career as footballer is a finite one, that can be over in the blink of an eye. That's something O'Brien will no doubt understand, having dealt with multiple injury setbacks in recent years, having missed multiple months last season with an ankle/lower leg injury that required surgery.

Ipswich Town are potentially the ideal club to head for too, as their central midfield options are not overly deep, nor proven at Premier League level. The former DC United man therefore could become Town's safest and most proven commodity in that area of the pitch should he make the move to Portman Road.

This could be O'Brien's last chance to make a career in the Premier League, or at least prove that the top-flight is the level of football he can and should be playing in going forward.

His move to Suffolk would perhaps come as a blow to Sheffield United more than Middlesbrough, as conflicting reports from Teesside Live suggest that the club have already moved on from signing O'Brien, as he perhaps was not a target in the first place.

For Blades on the other hand, O'Brien could've been a fantastic addition Chris Wilder's midfield, given the fact that Oli Norwood and Ben Osborn either have, or are expected to depart from Bramall Lane this summer.