**Swansea City Keen to Secure Return of Midfielder Lewis O’Brien Amid Growing Competition**
Swansea City are reportedly eager to reunite with Lewis O’Brien following his impressive loan spell—though mounting competition from other clubs, including Spanish giants Valencia, could complicate their ambitions this summer.
The 25-year-old midfielder made a notable impact during his six-month stint at the Swansea.com Stadium. O’Brien, on loan from Nottingham Forest, started 16 Championship matches under manager Alan Sheehan and became an integral part of the Swans’ midfield. Swansea’s director of football, Richard Montague, has made no secret of the club’s admiration for O’Brien’s abilities or their desire to bring him back.
Sources close to Swansea City suggest the club thoroughly appreciated both O’Brien’s on-pitch contributions and the professional example he set in the dressing room. However, it has emerged that Swansea are not alone in tracking the player, as a number of Championship sides are also understood to be monitoring his situation.
Adding another layer of intrigue are reports from Spain that Valencia, a prominent La Liga side, are preparing their own approach for O’Brien. According to Spanish sports outlet El Desmarque, Valencia are interested in arranging a loan move with an option to buy the midfielder. Nevertheless, the report indicates that finalising such a deal will be far from straightforward given the player’s current contractual obligations, as O’Brien still has a year left with Nottingham Forest.
Valencia may be hoping their managerial connections help sway O’Brien’s decision. Carlos Corberan, currently on the coaching staff at Valencia, previously worked closely with O’Brien during their shared time at Huddersfield Town, significantly influencing the midfielder’s development. This previous relationship could work in Valencia’s favour as competition for O’Brien intensifies.
Despite their clear interest, Swansea have not yet made a formal bid or move to retain O’Brien’s services. For their part, club insiders are tempering expectations, with suggestions that any negotiations would heavily depend on Nottingham Forest’s plans for the midfielder. Nottingham Forest hold all the cards, since O’Brien remains under contract at the City Ground until next summer.
Addressing speculation over O’Brien’s future, Richard Montague commented: “We do know Lewis has loved his time here and we have loved having him here. We’d love to have him back but he’s under contract with Nottingham Forest and it’s largely up to them what they choose to do. It’s something we’d really be open to and we’d love to explore further, but ultimately when he’s contracted to another club, it’s not us in the driving seat.”
Adding a further layer of complexity, other teams—including newly promoted Championship side Wrexham—have also been loosely linked with an interest in O’Brien, though sources have played down these connections for the time being.
Fans and observers alike will now watch closely as the summer transfer window approaches, with O’Brien likely to find himself at the centre of considerable speculation. His performances for Swansea have certainly put him in the shop window, but the club’s ability to secure his return could ultimately hinge on Forest’s aims and whether O’Brien is swayed by familiar faces at Valencia.
This developing story highlights not just the competitive nature of the football transfer market, but also the growing influence of player-coach relationships and the varied factors—on and off the pitch—that shape modern football decisions. As Championship clubs move to bolster their squads for the coming season, the future of Lewis O’Brien remains an intriguing subplot to the summer’s transfer activity.