Middlesbrough, Preston North End and Sheffield United in Nottingham Forest transfer battle | OneFootball

Preston North End, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United are all said to be interested in Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien for the 2024/25 Championship season.

That is according to journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon account, where he claims that there is a three-club chase so far for the 25-year-old left-footer.

O'Brien has spent the season on loan at Boro from Nottingham Forest, making 18 appearances since arriving at Riverside Stadium.

The Colchester-born midfielder suffered from an achilles injury during the early part of the 2023/24 campaign, returning to Michael Carrick's squad in a 1-3 win away at Millwall in January.

His first tangible contribution after coming back from injury came over a month later with an assist against high-flying Leicester City in a 2-1 win at home.

Talking to TeessideLive about a potential return to the Championship club next season, he said: "I've really enjoyed my time here and the time I've been playing.

"If it's the right time and the right things fall in place, I'd obviously love to come back here."

The initial loan deal to Boro capped off the club's busy 2023 summer, becoming their 10th signing. According to Nixon's report, re-signing him this window may be a more complex deal, with different scenarios in play as to whether Forest will be a Premier League club or not next season.

O'Brien has had invaluable experience in the Championship that would carry weight in a potential injury-free season under manager Michael Carrick.

His influence was felt at now-League One side Huddersfield Town, for whom he made over a century of appearances in the second division and even won a Player of the Year Award.

Preston North End keen to add O'Brien if Alan Browne departs

Alan Nixon reported that Ryan Lowe's Preston North End are another club in contention for the Forest man's signature. The move would be dependent on veteran PNE player and skipper Alan Browne turning down a new contract at the club.

However, this may also be a part of a general cleaning-of-house summer window for the Lilywhites, who are a side with a bloated number of midfield players.

Their 10th-placed finish in the Championship this season isn't a bad return for a side that don't have the biggest budget in the division, but refreshing the squad by adding the experience and quality of someone like O'Brien may be exactly what they need.

It's clear that Preston need to re-evaluate their squad going into the summer transfer window after an atrocious run of form to end the season. Having lost all five of their last matches in the Championship, there is perhaps a need for Lowe to go in a different direction this summer.

Sheffield United may return with a bid for Leiws O'Brien

Already relegated Sheffield United will have been planning a rejuvenation of their squad for some time, having their fate confirmed after a 5-1 loss away at Newcastle. What can be said about Chris Wilder's side is that there is definitely promise in midfield for next season's Championship campaign.

The standout player for the South Yorkshire outfit in the Premier League this season has been former Coventry City star Gustavo Hamer.

The addition of O'Brien as his midfield pairing could be a smart move if the Dutch talent decides to stay on at Bramall Lane. As Alan Nixon has reported, however, a move for O'Brien would be contingent on Nottingham Forest being relegated back to the Championship.

This isn't the first time that O'Brien has been linked though, as Paul Heckingbottom tried to land the midfielder last summer for their Premier League charge.

It is worth noting as well that Sheffield United's very young and inexperienced midfield, with the likes of Ollie Arblaster and Andre Brooks currently featuring, could cause an imbalance, as we've seen this season with catastrophic errors all over the pitch.

The result of this is Wilder's side officially becoming the worst side in Premier League history for goals conceded, having leaked their 100th goal in a 3-1 defeat to Forest this weekend.

Lewis O'Brien's Nottingham Forest future is currently unclear

It's obvious that Nottingham Forest will have made two distinct plans, which will be reliant on whether they are relegated from the Premier League. Nuno Espirito Santo's side face Chelsea and Burnley in crucial games that will decide their fate.

A move to a Championship side is likely though, as Luton Town's fumbling in form could mean they face the drop instead.

Therefore, O'Brien would surely be surplus to requirements at the City Ground, as Forest will need to offload a good portion of their squad to fight the looming hand of Financial Fair Play.

A return to Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough could be the ideal move for Lewis O'Brien, who would be a good fit in another season working for the ex-Manchester United boss, but there is likely to be other interest too aside from Preston North End and Sheffield United.