West Ham transfer news: Championship star could replace Mark Noble, £10m will seal deal – pundit
Noel Whelan has suggested West Ham could sign Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien to replace the retiring Mark Noble.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the Irons will be in the market for a new midfield star this summer.
As reported by TEAMtalk on Wednesday (16 February), West Ham have joined the race to sign O’Brien, 23, from the Yorkshire outfit.
As revealed by Football Insider back in October, the midfielder has a £10million release clause in his contract.
O’Brien signed a new deal in September after Leeds United failed to prise him away from the Terriers last summer.
With Noble set to hang up his boots at the end of the season, Whelan suggested the Huddersfield star could fill the void.
Asked if he thought O’Brien could take Noble’s place at West Ham, Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “Yeah, absolutely.
“I think a lot of clubs have been keeping tabs on him. I think when somebody retires, that shirt becomes available and that gap in the squad becomes available.
“It wouldn’t surprise me. David Moyes has often dipped into the Championship.
“He’s not been afraid of going there, getting a player, believing that he can deal with the Premier League demands and that he can turn him into a better player.
“He has done it now on many occasions. A manager that has already proven to improve a team, improve players individually and integrate them into a squad.
“That is now turning into a good relationship between all players. They’re all fighting, all singing off the same hymn sheet.
“It is about character, not just talent, when you’re trying to group together a winning team.”
O’Brien has played 115 times for Huddersfield to date, with 34 appearances under his belt this season.
His new contract runs until the summer of 2025.
In other news, West Ham told to strike contract deal before it is too late after source reveal.