Director of football Richard Montague says Swansea City want to bring Lewis O’Brien back to the club next season – but concedes the midfielder’s next move will be down to Nottingham Forest.
O’Brien has excelled in Swansea colours since arriving on loan at the back-end of the mid-season transfer window.
The 26-year-old said last month he would be open to the idea of returning to Swansea in 2025-26.
However, he remains under contract at the City Ground next season and the cost of any deal to bring him back to Wales is likely to be significant.
“We do know Lewis has loved his time here and we have loved having him here,” Montague said.
“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.”
O’Brien joined Forest from Huddersfield Town in 2022 following the Nottingham club’s promotion to the Premier League.
But he has played only 17 times for Forest, and spent time on loan at DC United, Middlesbrough and Los Angeles FC before moving to Swansea after they sold Matt Grimes to Coventry City.
O’Brien has scored once in 15 appearances for the Swans, with his energy and dynamism in midfield key in the club’s impressive form under Alan Sheehan.
“He is going to have an awful lot of suitors because he has played so well,” Montague added.
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