Sources: Major update on Leeds bid to sign O'Brien after talks held
Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O'Brien is keen to join Leeds United if a deal can be agreed, Football Insider has learned.
The site broke the news yesterday that Leeds have opened preliminary talks with Huddersfield over a permanent deal for the 22-year-old.
A Leeds source has told Football Insider that they have been given encouragement via third parties that O'Brien is keen to make the short move to west Yorkshire.
He is said to be ambitious and wants to play Premier League football.
That gives hope to the Whites that the central midfielder can be lured to Elland Road by next month's transfer cut-off.
Leeds missed out on Conor Gallagher yesterday as he completed a loan move from Chelsea to Crystal Palace.
Marcelo Bielsa's side have now set their sights on luring O'Brien on what would be a permanent deal.
United are in the market for a central midfielder who can provide cover and competition for the likes of Kalvin Phillips, Mateusz Klich and Stuart Dallas.
Adam Forshaw has made his long-awaited return to first-team football after two years of injury hell but Marcelo Bielsa will be wary of placing too many demands on him.
Much will depend on whether Leeds can match Huddersfield's asking price for their academy product.
O'Brien is out of contract at the Terriers next year, although they have the option to extend that deal by 12 months.
Leeds have been tracking O'Brien's progress for some time and he was closely watched last season.
He has made 81 appearances for Town since graduating from their youth set-up, which have yielded five goals and seven assists from midfield.
The rising star has also had a season on loan at Bradford City in League One, where he played 46 times.