JUST IN: Hull City transfer position on Nottingham Forest outcast confirmed.

Hull City will not be acquiring Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien, despite transfer speculation linking him to the out-of-favor former Huddersfield Town player. City have been linked to a potential move for the 26-year-old for more than a year. Although the Tigers have evaluated the experienced player, most recently in October, financial considerations have made the deal challenging to finalize.

The Tigers have signed 22-year-old Belgian Eliot Matazo from Monaco for around £1.8m, which means they no longer need to pursue a deal for O’Brien.

O’Brien, despite having returned from his MLS stint with Los Angeles (which concluded on New Year’s Eve) and currently seeking another transfer, still remains an outsider at the City Ground.

The seasoned player has had loan spells at DC United, Middlesbrough, and in LA since joining Forest after their promotion to the Premier League. After a prior transfer to Ewood Park fell through, he has once more been associated with a move to Blackburn Rovers, who are in the same division as City. However, O’Brien’s wage demands make this transfer difficult to accomplish in the current window.

O’Brien is thought to be earning approximately £40,000 weekly at Forest on a contract that extends until next summer. This salary would complicate a transfer for most Championship clubs lacking the benefit of parachute payments.

Matazo’s arrival strengthens City’s midfield ranks. He will compete with the in-form Steven Alzate, while Xavier Simons may depart the club as Swedish team AIK is interested in signing the 21-year-old former Chelsea prospect. Currently, City are aiming to secure a winger and a left-back before the transfer window shuts at 11pm on February 3.