Blackburn’s on-off move for Lewis O’Brien move is in the balance … and here is the breakdown of the drama.
Deadline day starts with Rovers following up a previous inquiry for the Nottingham Forest midfielder.
Rovers are happy to pay his wages in full on loan for the rest of the season and wait on the player to decide.
West Brom coach Carlos Corberan wants his old Huddersfield player to join his squad but the club is yet to commit.
Sheffield United are desperate for O’Brien and the player is keen on them. However Blades are under a transfer embargo and need to sell Sander Berge.
The Norwegian is waiting on Newcastle, who do not seem keen come the crunch. Alternative choices are headed by Brighton but they pull the plug in Moises Caicedo leaving and do not come in.
By this point Blackburn have kicked on and say they will take O’Brien and agree to the Forest demand that they sign him for £10 million.
This part of the deal hinges on Rovers being promoted and they are happy to do that. Baggies do not want to sign up for that plan.
At 3pm on deadline day O’Brien gives the green light to Blackburn and heads to Manchester for a medical.
There are no snags and his agents are at Blackburn to sort out terms on the potential full time move at the end of it.
O’Brien’s advisors and Blackburn discuss what the wages and length of contract will be in the deal should they go up.
Those figures are disclosed and Blackburn are not out off, but no contract for that eventuality is signed.
Paperwork is done and sent over for the loan but the timing is delayed by those discussions over the future of the player AFTER the end of the season.
There are no problems again and Forest say they are happy for the deal to go ahead on the basis agreed between the clubs.
In the frantic final minutes O’Brien, who did his interview with the club press, was interrupted just before the deadline to sign the form.
But then it is discovered that ONE signed form that was needed for the deal to proceed was not sent off after it was signed before 11pm.
Now the EFL are looking into the details and the explanations of the case - among several others that are also borderline decisions.
for me the deal will be done
