The Nottingham Forest boss signed the Sheffield United star at previous club Brentford.
Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton [right]
Mark Warburton has always had an eye for talent. Premier League trio Andre Gray, Moses Odubajo and James Tarkowski are among those he plucked from relative obscurity while manager of Brentford, along with Aston Villa’s new £12 million recruit Scott Hogan.
Had the new Nottingham Forest boss not been forced out of Griffin Park three months after Jack O’Connell’s arrival, the chances are the defender would have followed in the quartet’s footsteps and moved forwards rather than backwards, to League One Sheffield United.
O’Connell signed for the Blades in a cut-price deal last summer, after a campaign spent largely on the sidelines at Brentford, but will be a Championship player again next term – barring the most spectacular collapse from Chris Wilder’s team.
The defender has been, arguably, Wilder’s standout signing, playing 38 of a possible 40 league games, scoring four goals and keeping 11 clean sheets.
It’d be some surprise if Warburton hasn’t made a note of his 2015 recruit as a possible summer addition for Nottingham Forest, with the futures of centre-backs Michael Mancienne (out of contract) and Joe Worrall (repeatedly linked with a move to the Premier League) uncertain.
A capable left-back, too, O’Connell would also be of use to Forest should Dani Pinillos decide to leave when his deal expires this summer.
Sheffield United defender Jack O’Connell [right]
Nevertheless, the Liverpudlian would likely take some prising away from Bramall Lane, with United certainly not planning on simply make up numbers next season.
But as plenty of Warburton’s other recruits have proved, O’Connell could be worth investing in.
Should Nottingham Forest target the Sheffield United defender this summer?
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