Claims Sheffield United once used agent to investigate interest in their star names
and live on Freeview channel 276
The step, which one former staff member last night insisted occurred “a couple of years ago”, was supposedly designed to try and discover if any of England’s biggest names and others around Europe would be minded to submit bids for the most valuable members of United’s squad.
Although it is uncertain when the practice finished, or if it has finished at all, the use of an ‘independent’ intermediary could explain the appearance of stories linking Sander Berge with the likes of Arsenal, Milan and Internazionale only for members of Bramall Lane’s footballing department to quickly shut them down. Ismaila Coulibaly, the Malian midfielder signed at the behest of United World (UW), has also been mentioned as a target for the Rossoneri in the past despite making only six senior appearances since arriving in South Yorkshire.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe deal broker in question, who it has been suggested holds a licence with a foreign FA, is believed to have approached several of United’s rivals in an effort to ascertain whether or not they would be minded to submit offers for players expected to command high transfer fees. He is thought to have been brought onto the payroll at a time when United were looking to cut costs as they spiralled towards relegation from the Premier League in 2021; returning last term after winning promotion under Paul Heckingbottom.
One of the individuals who approached The Star believed the idea was designed to provide United with “a degree of cover and deniability” if the stories eventually made their way into the media. Another insisted it was to ensure best value was achieved if people were lured away during what was an uncertain period in United’s history.
Berge has again found himself the subject of speculation this summer, despite both Heckingbottom and United owner Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud insisting that the Norway international must remain in South Yorkshire.
United rejected multiple offers from Club Brugge for Berge after being beaten in the Championship play-offs two seasons ago, while Newcastle and Chelsea both considered loan bids either side of Heckingbottom’s employers being placed under an embargo in January.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThat fate also befell United sister club - fellow UW member Beerschot - last term after the Belgians failed to keep up on their repayments for two recently acquired players. Rumours recently began to circulate in Antwerp, where Beerschot are based, that UW could look to sell the team while Prince Abdullah is known to be holding talks with three overseas based consortiums about a takeover of United. Chateauroux, another club under the UW umbrella, face a series of financial issues in France.
Berge, who has entered the final year of his contract at United, is said to be content to fulfil his obligations before considering a switch elsewhere.
Speaking soon after United’s PL status was confirmed, Heckingbottom warned that selling Berge now would inevitably weaken their chances of staying up. He was bought, for £22m, from Genk during the reign of Heckingbottom’s predecessor Chris Wilder.