"To be honest" - Hull City urged against signing Nottingham Forest star | OneFootball

FLW's Hull City fan pundit has given his verdict on their potential pursuit of Lewis O'Brien

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Hull City are among the Championship sides eyeing a potential move for Lewis O’Brien in the January window.

According to Teamtalk, the Tigers face competition from rivals Sheffield United and Leeds United.

West Brom, Stoke City and Southampton have all also been mentioned as possibilities, with the midfielder currently plying his trade in MLS with LAFC, on loan from Nottingham Forest.

O’Brien has featured nine times for the American outfit this season since joining in the summer, contributing one assist.

The 26-year-old spent last season on loan with Middlesbrough, and has previously competed in the Championship with Huddersfield Town.

Lewis O’Brien Hull transfer verdict

When asked about the prospect of signing O’Brien, FLW’s Hull fan pundit Ryan Frankish claimed that it would be a decent addition to the squad.

However, he has raised concerns over whether it is really necessary, wondering if bringing in a short-term loan signing would be beneficial for the development of the permanent players they already have in the squad.

“I don’t think he’d be a bad signing,” Frankish told Football League World.

“He had a decent season with Boro last season.

“He flirts around decent Championship teams, he got the olive brach to Nottingham Forest but that hasn’t really worked out but it’s understandable when they’ve signed pretty much every player flirting around the transfer market.

“I don’t think he’d really benefit us that much though, to be honest.

“Between [Óscar] Zambrano, [Steven] Alzate, [Regan] Slater, I think the dogwork of the midfield is already covered.

“Depth is I suppose is very positive, but I mean even Xavi Simons he’s now coming into his own, so I feel like it could slow some progression down for the sake of a loan signing when the rest of our team is permanent.

“I feel like maybe it could upset that a little bit.”

Hull City league position

Hull have made an underwhelming start to the campaign given where expectations were before the term got underway.

Tim Walter arrived as manager in the summer after the team had come seventh in the Championship table.

The Tigers are winless in their last four games, leaving them five points behind sixth place Blackburn Rovers.

Next up for Hull is a home game against Portsmouth on 2 November in a 3pm kick-off.

O’Brien signing shouldn’t be Hull’s priority

As noted by FLW’s Hull fan pundit, the club already have a number of options in midfield as it is.

If O’Brien was a clear upgrade on those players, then a loan move would be a smart move, but that just isn’t the case.

The club should be focused on more obvious ways to strengthen the team in January, especially if their aim is a fight for a top six finish.

O’Brien is a solid Championship midfielder, but it’s difficult to see him having a transformative impact at the MKM Stadium if signed in the winter market.