Wayne Rooney has admitted defeat in his fight to keep a Premier League loanee at D.C. United, with a return to his parent club Nottingham Forest now imminent.
The former Manchester United hero had designs on keeping midfield ace Lewis O'Brien in Washington D.C. past the expiry date of his temporary deal with the club. However, the 24-year-old is now set to wrap up his brief stint in MLS at the end of his loan on July 16, with speculation linking him with a move to Sheffield United, as per Yorkshire Live.
The ex-Huddersfield Town trainee was deemed surplus to requirements at the City Ground halfway through last season after making 13 appearances in the top flight during the early months of the campaign. A loan move to Blackburn Rovers collapsed after he was left out of Steve Cooper's 25-man squad due to a paperwork issue in January, leaving him in a state of limbo.
In the end, Rooney swooped in to put the attacking midfielder out of his misery but offering him a fresh opportunity out in the US back in March. During his temporary stay at Audi Field, the boyhood Manchester City supporter has impressed, making 15 appearances and scoring once in MLS.
Discussions had been underway with Forest about potentially extending the player's stay in the US capital but it appears that a major stumbling block has been D.C. United's reluctance to pay a fee, according to the Washington Post. Securing the services of O'Brien permanently would have cost the MLS franchise in the "millions of dollars" but Rooney's team was more interested in a fresh loan agreement.
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Speaking to the Washington Post, the former England captain has now confirmed that it is probable that O'Brien will return to his parent club later this month. With nine days left of his current agreement in MLS, the midfielder will be available for two more games before he departs back to England versus Inter Miami this weekend and the New England Revolution.
Rooney said: “It’s probably looking more likely Lewis will be going back to England, we haven’t managed to get to an agreement with Nottingham Forest. We knew what it was [permanent fee]. He’s been fantastic for us since he’s come in — [a player of] great character.”
DC United's Lewis O'Brien (17) runs during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Atlanta United, Saturday, June 10, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)Despite this disappointment, the 37-year-old does remain determined to strengthen his squad over the coming weeks, with the MLS summer transfer window now open until August 2. The former Everton star has used O'Brien as virtually an ever-present since his arrival in March but a search for his replacement is now underway.
Rooney previously confirmed that D.C. United are looking to bring in reinforcements this summer but also hinted that they may have to be creative when freeing up funds for any prospective deals. He said: “We are obviously looking, there is a few players we have identified who we will work hard to try and bring in.
"There is things we can move round to try and do that. We have to be at our best, work at our best and we have to find the best way to free money up to bring players in."
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