---
title: "Leeds: Phil Hay provides Lewis O’Brien update"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-phil-hay-provides-lewis-obrien-update/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2021-08-14T18:15:08Z"
modified: "2021-08-14T18:15:08Z"
---

# Leeds: Phil Hay provides Lewis O’Brien update

**Leeds United are unwilling to pay the £8million Huddersfield Town are demanding for Lewis O’Brien, according to [*The Athletic*](https://theathletic.co.uk/)‘s Phil Hay.**

### The Lowdown: Leeds keen on O’Brien

Marcelo Bielsa may be on the lookout for a backup to Kalvin Phillips this season, in order for the Whites star to be given a breather now and again after a long, gruelling campaign followed by Euro 2020 in the summer.

One player who Leeds have been continually [linked](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-transfer-rumours/leeds-united-fresh-talks-with-lewis-obrien/) with is O’Brien, who has been a key man at Huddersfield, making [82 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lewis-obrien/alletore/spieler/560694) for the Championship club.

\[freshpress-quiz id=“359346″\]

### The Latest: Hay provides key update

Writing in a Q&A for [*The Athletic*](https://theathletic.com/2764989/2021/08/13/leeds-united-qa-ask-phil-hay-your-key-questions-ahead-of-this-weekends-premier-league-opener/) on Friday \[via [*Sportslens*](https://sportslens.com/leeds-unwilling-to-pay-8m-for-lewis-obrien/380286/)\], Hay confirmed that Leeds are interested in signing O’Brien, also saying ‘Bielsa likes him’.

The Whites don’t want to spend the required £8million for his services, however, which could scupper a potential deal happening.

[Latest Leeds United news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-12/)

### The Verdict: Is £8m too much?

While O’Brien has clearly been an influential figure for Huddersfield, winning the club’s [Player of the Year](https://www.htafc.com/news/2020/august/lewis-obrien-named-towns-player-of-the-year/) award in 2019/20, £8million does arguably sound a little steep for someone plying their trade in the Championship.

At 22, the midfielder is admittedly a long-term prospect with plenty of time to develop, but Leeds may be wise looking elsewhere unless the Terriers lower their demands.

It would be a hefty amount to spend on a player who wouldn’t even be going into the starting lineup regularly, despite once being [hailed](https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/transfer-news/burnley-transfer-news-lewis-obrien-18778514) as ‘incredible’ by Huddersfield writer Steven Chicken.

***In other news, Leeds are reportedly still keen on signing a player who shone at Euro 2020. Find out who it is [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-transfer-rumours/leeds-whites-still-keen-on-mikkel-damsgaard-move/).***